Messi, De Paul to Miss Next Two Inter Miami Games After World Cup

Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul will sit out Inter Miami CF’s upcoming MLS matches against Chicago Fire FC (Wednesday) and CF Montréal (Saturday). Both players also will be unavailable for the MLS All-Star Game on July 29, which falls within the 21-day rest window recommended after the FIFA World Cup. Sources confirm the duo will coordinate their time off with the club.

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FIFPRO, the global players’ union, has called for a minimum 21-day holiday at the end of each season for health reasons. FIFA later reviewed the demand in a meeting with FIFPRO in 2025 and reached a consensus on the initiative. The governing body emphasized a need for at least 72 hours between matches and a club-managed 21-day rest period for players.

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FIFA issued a statement noting, “There is a consensus that there must be at least 72 hours of rest between matches, and that players should have a rest period/holiday of at least 21 days at the end of each season.” Inter Miami indicated the two Argentines will plan their individual breaks in conjunction with the club, confirming their absence for the specified MLS fixtures and the All-Star event.

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• “The pain is immense and it will take time for this wound to heal," Messi wrote in Spanish on social media Monday.” — Lionel Messi, social-media post

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• “Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for every greeting and every message.” — Lionel Messi, post-World Cup statement

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• “Once again, we managed to unite as a country and be together, sharing the immense pride of being Argentine.” — Lionel Messi, post-World Cup statement

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• “There is a consensus that there must be at least 72 hours of rest between matches, and that players should have a rest period/holiday of at least 21 days at the end of each season.” — FIFA statement

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Messi’s eight goals and four assists helped Argentina finish second in the Golden Boot race, while De Paul featured in all eight World Cup matches. Their absence removes two of MLS’s biggest draws for the next two games and the All-Star showcase, highlighting the growing tension between elite-player welfare demands and league scheduling. The situation underscores how international-calendar pressures are reshaping club-level roster planning in North American soccer.

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