The American Major League Soccer (MLS) organises an annual All-Star game featuring the league's best players. Participation is usually mandatory, except for injured players.
Last year, Miami superstar Messi was suspended after skipping the event, something MLS chief Don Garber called “a very difficult decision.”
However, because this year's World Cup took place in the middle of the MLS season, the rules are not applied as strictly this year, and exceptions can be made.
In addition to Messi, his teammate and compatriot Rodrigo De Paul has also been exempted from the exhibition match.
Argentina lost the World Cup final to Spain 0-1. "The pain is enormous," Messi wrote on Instagram after the loss.
