MLS confirmed Saturday that Lionel Messi will not be required to participate in next week’s All-Star Game, citing his involvement in the World Cup final with Argentina as grounds for the exemption.
What It Means for the All-Star Showcase
particularly for a league that has leaned heavily on Messi’s presence
Whether that tradeoff is worth it is hard to argue against. Asking a player to perform in an exhibition event and the league appears to have reached that conclusion without much hand-wringing.
The NYCFC Angle
For City supporters, and how the league’s broader approach to World Cup recovery windows affects the back end of the MLS regular season. that the overlap between international commitments and league obligations
