Lionel Messi Out of MLS All-Star Game with Ankle Injury
Just eight days after helping Argentina lift the Copa América trophy, Lionel Messi will have to sit out this year’s MLS All-Star Game due to an ankle injury. The Argentine superstar’s participation in the match, scheduled to take place on July 24 in Columbus, Ohio, was announced by the league on Monday.
Joining Messi on the unavailable list is his Inter Miami CF teammate Luis Suárez, who’s dealing with knee discomfort. On the brighter side, the team’s other two former Barcelona stars, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, will still feature in the match.
This marks Messi’s third straight game absence since injuring his ankle in the Copa América final win over Colombia. He had initially started the match, but left the field early in the first half due to the issue.
As for why these two star players will be missing out on the fun, we take a look at some numbers to understand the impact on their respective teams. Messi has been a driving force for Inter Miami, with 12 goals and 13 assists in just 12 games this season. The Argentine playmaker has also been a goal-scoring machine, racking up an impressive 25 goal contributions in his first 12 matches – a record in the MLS season.
With Messi out of action, the spotlight shifts to the remaining All-Star lineup. Interestingly, the league leader in goals, Cristian Arango, won’t be present either. The Real Salt Lake striker has racked up 17 goals this season, good enough to tie the single-season record set by Alvaro Saborio in 2012.
For all you soccer enthusiasts out there, tune in to the MLS All-Star Game on July 24 at 8 PM ET. And if you can’t wait for the big day, keep up with all the latest news and updates on soccer, as well as our in-depth analysis, by following us on all social media platforms!