Inter Miami's Argentine forward #10 Lionel Messi celebrates a goal during a Major League Soccer (MLS) regular season football match between Inter Miami CF and Orlando City SC at NU Stadium in Miami, on May 2, 2026.

Messi headlines MLS players for All-Star Game vs. Liga MX

GIORGIO VIERA / AFP / Getty

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Lionel Messi, the World Cup’s all-time leading goal scorer, was among 29 players selected to represent Major League Soccer on Wednesday against the LIGA MX All-Stars on July 29 at the MLS All-Star Game in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Messi has 12 goals and eight assists in 14 matches this season for Inter Miami CF.

Messi is among 13 World Cup players selected to the MLS All-Star roster.

Among the others are Cape Verde defender Steven Moreira from the Columbus Crew and four players from the United States team, including NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese, Charlotte FC center back Tim Ream, Columbus Crew defender Max Arfsten and Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter.

It’s unclear if Messi plans to play in the All-Star game after sitting out last year’s exhibition match, which led to a one-game suspension that Inter Miami FC owner Jorge Mas called “draconian.”

Messi, the leading scorer at this year’s World Cup, helped defending champion Argentina rally from a two-goal deficit to beat Egypt 3-2 on Tuesday.

Argentina faces Switzerland on Saturday in the quarterfinals. The World Cup final is July 19.

Here is the complete MLS roster for the All-Star game:

GOALKEEPERS (3)