AUSTIN (KXAN) — Fans in Austin hoping to see Major League Soccer's highest-paid and most popular player for the league's all-star game Wednesday will be disappointed.

Lionel Messi, along with his Inter Miami CF teammate Jordi Alba, will not play for the MLS all-stars when they meet the Liga MX squad at 8 p.m. CDT in Q2 Stadium. Representatives from Miami informed the league about the decision Wednesday. Neither player is listed as injured, and unless they receive a special exemption from the league to miss the all-star game, they'll be suspended for one regular season game, making them unavailable for an Eastern Conference showdown with league-leading FC Cincinnati on Saturday. It's unclear whether or not the league will grant a special exemption.

Messi has been voted into the league's a

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