Ahead of the MLS All-Stars vs. Liga MX All-Stars game on Wednesday, the Skills Challenge was set to kick off festivities for another edition of the annual showcase. However, Jordi Alba was pulled from the event at the last minute, raising questions about the Inter Miami star’s status.
The Skills Challenge is scheduled for Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET and features top players from Major League Soccer and Liga MX competing in dynamic tests of skill and precision at Q2 Stadium in Texas. The competition includes the following events:
- Shooting Challenge
- Touch Challenge
- Cross & Volley Challenge
- Passing Challenge
- Crossbar Challenge
With Clint Dempsey and Lindsey Heaps appearing as special guests, the MLS roster originally featured 10 stars from across the league, including Jordi Alba as Inter Miami’s representative. However, shortly before the event, MLS released an updated roster that excluded the Spanish left back.
Alba reportedly picked up a knock in Inter Miami’s most recent match on Saturday against the New York Red Bulls. As a result, he has been withdrawn from the event. On the Liga MX side, Colombian midfielder James Rodriguez was also ruled out due to not having arrived in the U.S. in time.
In Alba’s place, 19-year-old Obed Vargas of the Seattle Sounders has been selected as his replacement. With the challenge set to begin, the high-profile absences add another layer of controversy to the 2025 edition.
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Alba and Lionel Messi included in All-Star Game squad list
Despite missing the skills challenge, both Jordi Alba and Lionel Messi are still listed on the official MLS All-Star Game roster. The two Inter Miami teammates were named to this year’s squad, with Messi assigned the No. 10 jersey and Alba set to wear No. 18—matching their numbers with the Herons.
Neither player traveled to Austin for the training sessions on Monday or Tuesday, but there remains optimism that both stars will arrive on Wednesday and be available for selection. If so, it would mark Messi’s debut in the MLS All-Star Game.
