Things have turned sour for the MLS All-Star game with fans learning of Lionel Messi's absence from the blockbuster clash against the Liga MX All-Stars. According to reports, MLS officials tried their best to convince Inter Miami to have their talisman be a part of the team,

Lionel Messi shirts dotted the concourse at Austin's Q2 Stadium for the 2025 MLS All-Star Game, but there was no Messi jersey on the pitch.

With just hours before kickoff at Q2 Stadium, a single question dominates headlines and fan debates alike: Will Messi actually play? As the MLS All-Star Game nears, all eyes are on Austin, Texas, where some of the biggest names in North American soccer are set to collide in a dazzling midseason showcase.