MLS “roared back to the win column” in its summer classic as its All-Stars pulled off a 3-1 victory over top players from Liga MX on Wednesday night in the MLS All-Star Game at Q2 Stadium. It was “an emphatic response by MLS,” which endured back-to-back blowout losses in 2023 and 2024 to Arsenal and Liga MX, respectively. Despite “concerns about attendance” due to Inter Miami F Lionel Messi‘s decision to skip the game, MLS “still managed a sellout in one of its most passionate markets.” The league announced it sold 20,738 tickets for Wednesday’s event (GOAL.com, 7/23).
MLS Commissioner Don Garber “refused to be drawn on whether the league planned to sanction” Messi after he was a late withdrawal from the game. The 11th-hour snub has left Messi and Inter Miami teammate Jordi Alba “facing a one-game suspension from MLS.” Under league rules, players selected for the All-Star game “must participate unless they have a valid reason -- such as an injury -- not to do so.” Garber did note that Messi “has recently completed a punishing schedule of games” -- nine in 35 days. Still, Garber said the league “should have been made aware earlier” that Messi planned to skip the game. Garber: “We should have known earlier” (SOCCER AMERICA, 7/23). Messi “has yet to appear in an MLS All-Star Game.” He missed the game last year with an injury (AP, 7/23).
The win “couldn’t have gone much better for the Austin contingent.” Austin FC GK Brad Stuver started the match -- receiving “the biggest cheer of the night” during pregame introductions -- and posted a shutout “with an impressive diving save” during his 34 minutes on the field. Austin FC coach Nico Estévez “will forever have an all-star game victory on his coaching resume.” Austin FC D Guilherme Biro -- who “was a last-minute addition” -- was the game’s “final sub, just stepping on the field and playing for 12 minutes” (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 7/23).
