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- Messi, Alba have missed both training sessions
- Participation for both in All-Star activities are in doubt
- Carles Gil and Diego Luna among those surprised
AUSTIN, Texas – The MLS All-Stars took the training ground at Austin FC‘s impressive St. David’s Performance Center on Monday, and 28 of the 30 selections were accounted for – ranging from San Diego’s Mexico star Hirving ‘Chucky’ Lozano to the Vancouver Whitecaps‘ Brian White.
Yet, two absentees were glaring as Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba were not present. It was more of the same Tuesday, as again the former Barcelona stars were again no-shows. It’s a development some other MLS All-Stars acknowledged was a bit surprising.
“I know they are on obviously on the roster, and I don’t know if they are coming in today or tomorrow, but, yeah, hopefully they can come like everyone here,” New England Revolution All-Star Carles Gil said. “It’s just two training days, so this is difficult to have a chemistry.”
Real Salt Lake and USMNT star Diego Luna echoed those sentiments.
“Am I surprised? Maybe a little bit because they were on the roster, but they’ve got their own individual things going on,” Luna explained.
Still, Gil and Luna remained optmistic despite the no-shows of the two Miami stars.
“The only cool thing is they get here tomorrow and we can play together and have fun,” Luna said.
Gil added, “In the end, here you have the best of the best. Everyone has the quality, and everyone has the quality, and in the end is football.”
Despite Luna’s comments, there has been no official confirmation at to when, or if, Messi and Alba are arriving. There has been uncertainty as to whether either will participate in any All-Star event this week, as alluded to by MLS head coach Nico Estevez Monday.
“That’s a question for his club. I just coach and use the players I’m given. I hope so – I’m very optimistic and I hope he can be there,” he said.
It is unclear whether or not Messi or Alba will face discipline for missing Media Day or the two training sessions that have been considered mandatory in the past. One report has mentioned Messi is expected to arrive Wednesday. According to MLS rules, unless there is a medical reason, Messi and Alba need to play to avoid being suspended for Inter Miami’s match against FC Cincinnati this Saturday.
Still, if Messi and Alba are available to play, other All-Stars believe it will be fairly straightforward to integrate with the two Miami stars.
“We’re not developing very much chemistry in two days, to be fair. I mean, it takes, it takes months and months, if not years, to develop, like, really good chemistry with the guys,” Austin FC All-Star Brad Stuver said with a smile. “But right now, it’s just, we’re really enjoying on guys that are here. We know that those guys, like they’ll be here at some point. But right now, we’re just enjoying the group that we have, like bantering, like it’s good to have guys that you’re normally competing against.”
Orlando City SC star Marco Pašalić added, “For me, it’s this no problem. For some reasons, they’re not here. I don’t know why, but it’s up to them. Like we train here, we have fun, so tomorrow we play together, and it’s OK.”
Messi was also selected to the 2024 All-Star game but missed it due to the injury he sustained in the Copa America final. If he plays, it will be his first appearance as an MLS All-Star.
The Skills Competition, which features Alba as one of the headliners, kicks off Tuesday night before the main event takes place Wednesday at Q2 Stadium.
