Lionel Messi and Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul will not play in the club's next two matches or the MLS All-Star Game on July 29, ESPN reported.
Both players are returning from their participation in the World Cup, where Argentina reached the final before losing to Spain. The MLS season has resumed, but its most prominent star will be absent from the pitch for at least the upcoming games against the Chicago Fire and CF Montreal.
FIFA and FIFPRO, the global players' union, established a 21-day mandatory rest period at the end of each season for player health, starting in 2025. The agreement also states there should be at least 72 hours of rest between matches. While Messi and De Paul are planning their time off with Inter Miami, it remains unclear if they will utilize the full 21-day window.
Messi, a multiple-time World Cup participant, was selected for the MLS All-Star Game for the third time. However, he has not yet participated in the event. His absence from the exhibition match is considered a significant blow to Major League Soccer, especially given the increased attention on the sport in the United States following the World Cup, which captivated many sports fans.