MLS beats Liga MX 4-3 in All-Star Game without Lionel Messi originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Major League Soccer is on top once again.
For the second straight year, MLS took down Liga MX in the 2026 MLS All-Star Game in the annual showcase between the two North American leagues.
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Liga MX, which entered Charlotte with a starting lineup devoid of several key players, stunningly opened the scoring first inside 10 minutes.
On a free kick, a dangerous whipped ball into the box saw goalie Matt Freese stay on his line. The ball eventually reached the back post, where Luis Rey powered home with force.
MLS didn’t stay down for too long, though.
With no Lionel Messi in the squad as he rests following Argentina’s World Cup final loss, the next major star stepped up.
LAFC forward Son Heung-min found himself in wide-open space down the left flank, where New England Revolution attacking midfielder Carles Gil found him.
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Son smartly went between goalie Carlos Acevedo‘s legs to equalize in the 20th minute.
Then just three minutes later, the Gil-Son connection came to fruition again, putting MLS up 2-1.
Nashville attacking midfielder Hany Mukhtar exquisitely broke down Liga MX’s defensive line with a chipped ball toward Gil.
Gil brought it down along the baseline, surveyed his options, then curled one in to the middle of the box where Son timed his run for the volley.
Son and Gil both then came off early in the 36th minute to allow a jampacked roster to get playing time.
MLS took a 3-1 lead into halftime thanks to a late third goal from Chicago Fire midfielder Philip Zinckernagel, who capitalized off a deflected hit and buried it past Acevedo.
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The 42nd-minute strike wasn’t placed in the best spot, but it had the power to beat Acevedo.
Both sides made changes in the second half as substitution limits don’t apply to this exhibition.
Liga MX struck first in the 55th minute, as halftime substitute Salomon Rondon was in the right place at the right time.
A clever backheel flick from Nathan Silva, a fellow second-half sub, found Rondon wide open, who converted past Nashville’s Brian Schwake.
The comeback hopes were cut short very quickly, however, as MLS netted its fourth just three minutes later.
FC Cincinnati midfielder Evander found room — as he usually does — in the box as Nashville striker Sam Surridge set him up in transition.
That would be the last goal for MLS, but Liga MX forced a nervy ending by finding a third goal in stoppage time.
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In the first minute of six added minutes, Cruz Azul midfielder Jose Paradela connected on a left-footed volley inside the box. Defender Israel Reyes made the cross on the right flank, with no goalie having a chance to stop the hit.
In the end, Liga MX did not have one last moment to force penalties.
Son claimed the MVP award for his first-half brace.
The MLS has played Liga MX five times in the All-Star Game, winning four and losing one. The only loss came in 2024, when Liga MX won 4-1 in Columbus, Ohio.
The first two editions came in 2021 and 2022 before the MLS welcomed Premier League giants Arsenal in 2023, losing 5-0.
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MLS bounced back in 2025 with a 3-1 win over Liga MX, where Messi skipped out and eventually received a short suspension for doing so.
MLS will now continue its push toward the end of the regular season, with Decision Day set for Nov. 7.
