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Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez Will Miss 2024 MLS All-Star Game with Injuries

Joseph Zucker

Inter Miami confirmed Monday that Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez will miss the MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday.

"Leo Messi will miss the All-Star Game due to an ankle injury, while Luis Suárez, who recently returned from international duty after over 40 days away from the club, will miss the All-Star Game due to knee discomfort," the club said, per the Miami Herald's Michelle Kaufman. "Their availability for Saturday's League's Cup match will be assessed based on their daily recovery process."

Messi was subbed off in Argentina's 1-0 victory over Colombia in the Copa América final with what Inter Miami described as a ligament injury in his right ankle. He had gone down without contact and exited in the 66th minute of the match.

Suárez, who represented Uruguay at Copa América, might be getting rested by Inter Miami proactively as much as he's experiencing knee discomfort. He has logged a lot of minutes this summer, most recently going the distance in the 2-1 win over Chicago Fire FC over the weekend.

Messi and Suárez are arguably the two most notable names in the league based on their reputations in the sport, and they earned their All-Star nods on merit. The former has 12 goals and 13 assists in 12 appearances, while the latter boasts 12 goals and five assists through 18 fixtures.

Missing both will be a blow for MLS in terms of building interest for the All-Star Game, which pits the league's top players against a handpicked squad from Mexico's Liga MX.

The supporters in Columbus, Ohio, are the biggest losers from Monday's news.

Inter Miami's lone trip to Lower.com Field during the 2023 season came in April, before Messi and Suárez had signed with the club. They have yet to make the trip to Central Ohio, and their only chance this year is now Miami's Oct. 2 date with the Columbus Crew.

   

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