FILE PHOTO: Jul 14, 2024; Miami, FL, USA; Argentina forward Lionel Messi (10) celebrates after winning the Copa America Final against Colombia at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
(Reuters) - Inter Miami's Lionel Messi will not play in this week's MLS All-Star Game, Major League Soccer said on Monday, eight days after the Argentine superstar left the Copa America final with an ankle injury.
Messi was listed among unavailable players for Wednesday's match in Columbus, Ohio, pitting MLS All Stars from 18 league clubs against top talent from Mexico's LIGA MX.
The game would have been the 37-year-old's MLS All-Star Game debut after he joined Inter Miami in July 2023 following a storied career in Europe.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner has 12 goals and 13 assists in his first 12 games of 2024 for Inter Miami, making him the quickest to 25 goal contributions in an MLS season.
The All-Star Game will be played at 8 p.m. EDT (0000 GMT) on July 24.
(Reporting by Karl Plume in Chicago; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
