MLS All-Stars Appreciate Lionel Messi's Invaluable Impact On League
While Inter Miami CF star Lionel Messi and teammate Jordi Alba were MIA for the 2025 MLS All-Star Game, that doesn't mean the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner's invaluable impact wasn't felt and appreciated by fans, media and players around Austin this week.
Messi and Alba, both of whom were selected for the match against LigaMX all-stars at Q2 Stadium but were last-minute absences, have had a profound effect—along with teammates Luis Suárez and Sergio Busquets—on the validity and visibility of the league as it celebrates its 30th season.
'It's unexplanatory. He brings so much to the league,' Orlando City SC defender Alex Freeman said. 'He brings more views and more people looking to MLS. We've worked so hard for it and for someone like Messi to come here and help us to do that and help us grow the league is just so important for us and we're grateful for that.'
Since joining Inter Miami CF from PSG in July 2023, Messi, ranked No. 5 on The World's Highest-Paid Athletes 2025 list by Forbes, made an immediate impact on and off the field. He scored the game-winning free kick against Cruz Azul in his first appearance as he helped guide Inter Miami to the inaugural Leagues Cup trophy.
Ticket sales skyrocketed as cities and clubs around the U.S. and Canada welcomed the Argentine captain with open arms, regardless of what impending Messi magic would terrorize them on the field. Messi's No. 10 jersey quickly became the league's top-selling jersey as MLS and league-wide sponsor adidas grappled with backorders due to unprecedented demand.
Sports Illustrated Stadium was a sea of Inter Miami pink and Argentina blue as Messi and Miami ... More played the New York Red Bulls on July 19.
As if that wasn't enough, Messi somehow bested his debut season's success in his sophomore campaign with a league-leading 36 goal contributions (20 goals/16 assists) to win the 2024 MLS MVP. Despite playing just 19 matches, Messi skyrocketed Inter Miami to the Supporters' Shield while setting a league record for most points in a single season.
'It's great for all of us. We all benefit from it,' Nashville SC forward Hany Mukhtar said. 'His first tournament here in the U.S. was the Leagues Cup and we played them in the final. There was so much attention around that. It's great to see.
'If you bring the greatest here, the whole world is watching and that's good for all of us.'
Unsurprisingly, MLS continues to put all of its eggs into the Messi basket, knowing his time in the league could be coming to an end.
Messi signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Inter Miami in 2023 that runs through the 2025 season. ESPN reported in early July that sources say contract negotiations to extend Messi in Miami are ongoing, though he's been linked to other clubs including a big-money move to Saudi Arabia as well as former FC Barcelona teammate Cesc Fàbregas recently expressing interest to bring Messi to Como, the Serie A club he currently manages.
Lionel Messi MLS All-Star jerseys were available to purchase in Austin this week.
Regardless of how much longer Messi stays in the U.S. is to be seen, but that doesn't mean we won't be seeing as much of him as possible until then. MLS announced Thursday the return—and expansion—of 'Player Spotlight: Messi,' a special live stream experience offering fans an all-Messi match view exclusively on TikTok Live.
Last season's debut of 'Player Spotlight: Messi' during Inter Miami's playoff opener drew more than 6.4 million live views across MLS and Inter Miami TikTok channels, setting the record for the largest live audience for a U.S. sports event on the platform.
This year's spotlight will highlight Messi across four matches beginning with Miami's Leagues Cup opener against Necaxa on August 2.
'He came in and changed the league, honestly,' Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder Sebastian Berhalter said. 'Who he is as a person and his ability, it's literally changed the league. … It would be great (if he extends), but he's also done so much already. Whatever he wants to do, I think everyone's understanding.
'He's already done so much for our league. He can do whatever he wants.'
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