Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba, two prominent players for Inter Miami, are set to miss the Major League Soccer (MLS) All-Star Game against Liga MX on Wednesday night in Austin, Texas. An MLS spokesperson confirmed that Inter Miami informed league officials that the two players would not participate in the match at Q2 Stadium.

The reason for their absence has not been disclosed. However, according to league policy, both Messi and Alba could face a one-match suspension for missing the All-Star Game without a credible injury report. The league plans to discuss the matter with Inter Miami officials before making a final decision on potential suspensions.

This is not the first time Messi has missed the MLS All-Star Game; he was absent last year due to an injury. According to MLS policy, any player who misses the All-Star game without a confirmed injury could be subjected to a one-match suspension.

If suspended, Messi and Alba would miss Inter Miami's upcoming home match against FC Cincinnati on Saturday. Inter Miami lost their previous match against Cincinnati 3-0 on July 16th, and they are currently trailing Cincinnati by seven points in the Eastern Conference standings. Although Inter Miami has three games in hand due to their participation in the Club World Cup, securing points in the table is crucial.

In a statement to The Athletic, the MLS stated that they need to speak with Inter Miami to confirm player availability for Saturday's match. The conversation with Inter Miami is important to determine why Messi and Alba were held out of participating in the All-Star game.

Commissioner Don Garber is expected to speak ahead of the All-Star game on Wednesday to address the state of the league, and Messi's absence could be part of that address.