INTERNATIONAL football star Lionel Messi has officially signed his new contract with Inter Miami, which will last through 2025.
He signed the contract just days before the start of the Major League Soccer All-Star Game, but he will ultimately not be playing and now fans want to know why.
Why is Lionel Messi not playing for MLS All-Stars vs Arsenal?
Lionel Messi joined David Beckham’s Inter Miami team after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expired in June 2023.
The agreement was signed before the MLS All-Star game against Arsenal began, which is why many fans thought he would be taking the field.
However, by the time terms were reached, he was unable to be a part of the player selection process.
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Who is playing for MLS All-Stars?
The MLS All-Star roster is made up of 12 players who were voted in by fans, media, and players, 14 players who were selected by MLS All-Star head coach Wayne Rooney, and two who were chosen by MLS Commissioner Don Garber.
Those players include:
Forwards and Wingers
- No. 20 Christian Benteke (DC United)
- No. 99 Dénis Bouanga (Los Angeles Football Club)
- No. 19 Christian Espinoza (San Jose Earthquakes)
- No. 9 Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas)
- No. 7 Giorgos Giakoumakis (Atlanta United)
- No. 38 Kei Kamara (Chicago Fire FC)
- No. 13 Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC)
Midfielders
- No. 11 Luciano Acosta (FC Cincinnati)
- No. 23 Thiago Almada (Atlanta United)
- No. 29 Mathieu Choinière (CF Montréal)
- Carles Gil (New England Revolution)
- No. 16 Héctor Herrera (Houston Dynamo FC)
- No. 8 José Martínez (Philadelphia Union)
- No. 5 Aidan Morris (Columbus Crew)
- No. 10 Hany Mukhtar (Nashville, SC)
- No. 6 Riqui Puig (LA Galaxy)
- No. 30 Lucas Zelarayán (Columbus Crew)
Defenders
- No. 31 Álvaro Barreal (FC Cincinnati)
- No. 17 Jon Gallagher (Austin FC)
- Jakob Glesnes (Philadelphia Union)
- No. 24 Ryan Hollingshead (Los Angeles Football Club)
- No. 21 Matt Miazga (FC Cincinnati)
- No. 26 Tim Parker (St. Louis City SC)
- No. 47 John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls)
- No. 25 Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)
Goalkeepers
- No. 1 Roman Bürki (St. Louis City SC)
- No. 28 Tyler Miller (DC United)
- No. 12 Djordje Petrovic (New England Revolution)
The MLS All-Star Game will be played on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at Audi Field in Washington, DC.
When will Lionel Messi make his debut?
The Messi effect is in full swing in Miami, Florida, and the superstar is eager to get started.
"I’m sure we’re going to have many wonderful experiences," Messi told a crowd of fans after he signed his multi-million-dollar MLS contract, via the Associated Press.
"I’m very much moved to be here in Miami, to be with you," he continued.
“I want to thank you, all of you, on behalf of my family, for the kindness that you have given me.”
He is expected to make his Inter Miami debut against Cruz Azul on July 21 in the Leagues Cup.
Tickets to watch Messi's debut for Inter Miami against Cruz Azul will cost anywhere from $350 to $2,000 on Ticketmaster.
