Lionel Messi to miss next two Inter Miami games, All-Star Game — report

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul will miss the club's next two Major League Soccer (MLS) matches following Argentina's FIFA World Cup campaign, according to an ESPN report.

Both players featured in all eight of Argentina's World Cup matches. Messi started every game and played the full 120 minutes in Sunday's 1-0 extra-time loss to Spain in the final.

The report also said Messi and De Paul, who were selected for the 2026 MLS All-Star Game on July 29, are expected to skip the exhibition against the Liga MX All-Stars.

Messi also missed the 2025 MLS All-Star Game without league approval and was suspended for Inter Miami's next regular-season match. According to ESPN, the club has informed MLS that Messi will not participate in this year's All-Star Game.

Global players' union FIFPRO has recommended a 21-day offseason rest period to help protect player health. FIFA and FIFPRO also agreed in 2025 that players should have at least 72 hours of rest between World Cup matches.

Messi and De Paul are expected to sit out Inter Miami's matches against the Chicago Fire on Wednesday and CF Montreal on Saturday.

Inter Miami will then host the Columbus Crew on Aug. 1 before competing in the Leagues Cup from Aug. 5 to Aug. 12. The club returns to MLS action on Aug. 15, and both players are expected to be available again after completing their recovery period, barring any injury setbacks.

Messi finished the 2026 World Cup with eight goals and four assists, placing second behind France's Kylian Mbappe in the Golden Boot race.

Inter Miami are currently second in the MLS Eastern Conference standings with a 9-2-4 record, trailing conference leaders Nashville SC by five points. -Field Level Media/Reuters