So why would a healthy Messi – along with his former Barça and current Miami teammate Jordi Alba – skip out on an All-Star Game when they’ve participated in dozens of money grab exhibition friendly matches across the globe throughout their careers? There’s been no official word given from Messi’s camp.

If a fully healthy Messi, who is literally an MLS business partner rather than employee, can’t be bothered to show up, then there’s no reason to keep having it.