Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano said he would prefer that Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba not participate in the 2025 MLS All-Star Game, insisting players should be resting amid the ongoing regular season.
Messi and Alba stand as the two Inter Miami players to be chosen for the MLS All-Star Game on July 23 against the best of Liga MX in Austin, with the defender also participating in the Skills Challenge event the day prior.
“The players are called up, I would like them to be able to rest but that is not my decision,” Mascherano said. “I know how important the All Star [Game] is, and as far as I know there is no decision from the club, everything is as normal.”
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Messi and Alba are expected to travel next week to Texas to participate in the event.
Inter Miami is set to face the New York Red Bulls on Saturday night, playing their third game in seven days. The team is ramping up MLS regular-season action following their participation in the Club World Cup, where Inter Miami emerged in second place from the group stage to qualify for the round of 16 before losing to Paris Saint-Germain.
Mascherano expressed concern over the amount of games after goalkeeper Oscar Ustari suffered a knock during the midweek match against FC Cincinnati that saw him forced off the pitch and replaced by Rocco RÃos Novo.
“Regarding injuries, I’m not a specialist. It clearly worries me because, in the end, the team has been suffering from a lot of muscle injuries all season,” Mascherano said.
“The intensity of the games we’ve played, especially in the last month and a half, has been very, very high. But, well, we also clearly have to find some explanation, improve, and try to avoid it because obviously the team is gradually deteriorating with injuries.”
Lionel Messi’s MLS record streak of scoring two goals in a game ended at five after Miami lost to Cincinnati. Jeff Dean/Getty Images
The coach later said Ustari picked up an injury, but does not know the extent of his time on the sidelines yet.
“Ustari suffered an injury, but I do not know the extent of the timeline. He will not play tomorrow, the goalkeeper will be Rocco [Rios Novo.]”
Inter Miami will also soon begin preparations for their second tournament of the summer when kicking off against Atlas on July 30 for the 2025 edition of Leagues Cup.
