Don Garber, Commissioner of Major League Soccer (MLS), spoke today at a press conference about the absence of Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi from the MLS All-Star Game.
The commissioner addressed the controversy surrounding Messi’s absence from the 2025 All-Star Game, explaining that it was due to the demanding schedule the Argentine star faced in recent weeks.
The statements were made during an official MLS press conference held in connection with this week’s All-Star event.
Garber’s comments came in the context of the 2025 MLS All-Star Game, held in the United States, where Messi’s absence became one of the main topics of discussion.
Garber explained that Messi played nine matches in 30 days—most of them full 90-minute games—while other teams had rest periods of up to 10 days.
Given this context, the commissioner stated that “things need to be put into perspective” and suggested that the league could take a lenient approach regarding the policy that enforces a one-game suspension for non-injured players who choose not to participate in the All-Star Game.
