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A number of World Cup standouts lead Major League Soccer's All-Star team this year. Lionel Messi of Argentina and Cape Verde defender Steven Moreira, who battled Messi during the round of 32, headline 13 World Cup participants named to the MLS team that will face Mexico's Liga MX All-Star squad.
Four players who were part of the United States' World Cup squad are also part of the 29-man roster: NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese, Charlotte FC center back Tim Ream, Columbus Crew defender Max Arfsten and Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter.
More: The end came for Lionel Messi. He laughed in its face | Opinion
There also is a place for rising American stars. Real Salt Lake attacker Zavier Gozo, 19, and 18-year-old New York Red Bulls forward Julian Hall are on the team. Hall is one of two players selected by MLS commissioner Don Garber.
First-place Nashville SC has four players — attackers Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge, fullback Andy Najar and goalkeeper Brian Schwake — on the list, the most of any single club.
Southern rival Charlotte SC will host the game and have players on the All-Star roster for the first time. Ream was voted in as one of the first XI selected by a media and fan vote. midfielders Pep Biel and Ashley Westwood were added by coach Dean Smith.
A notable absence is Diego Luna, who missed out on the U.S. World Cup roster despite a strong start to the MLS campaign with Real Salt Lake.
While Messi was named to the team, his presence in Charlotte is hardly guaranteed. The former FC Barcelona star was named to last year's game in Austin, but he and then-Inter Miami teammate Jordi Alba skipped the game and were suspended for Inter Miami's next match.
Messi hopes to be playing in the World Cup through the July 19 final and is likely to take time off after the World Cup regardless of how the Albiceleste finish. The July 29 game may be a casualty of that run.
His teammate for club and country, midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, is in the same situation. The two Argentina stars are the only players on the All-Star roster still alive in the World Cup.
GOALKEEPERS (3)
DEFENDERS (10)
MIDFIELDERS (9)
FORWARDS (7)
Liga MX has announced a portion of its squad that will contest the match, with its award finalists on the team.
Several players, including Toluca midfielder Marcel Ruiz who is recovering from surgery to repair a torn ACL, will be replaced.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLS All-Star roster is out: Messi and Cape Verde's World Cup hero headline
Continue reading...
Four players who were part of the United States' World Cup squad are also part of the 29-man roster: NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese, Charlotte FC center back Tim Ream, Columbus Crew defender Max Arfsten and Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter.
More: The end came for Lionel Messi. He laughed in its face | Opinion
There also is a place for rising American stars. Real Salt Lake attacker Zavier Gozo, 19, and 18-year-old New York Red Bulls forward Julian Hall are on the team. Hall is one of two players selected by MLS commissioner Don Garber.
First-place Nashville SC has four players — attackers Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge, fullback Andy Najar and goalkeeper Brian Schwake — on the list, the most of any single club.
Southern rival Charlotte SC will host the game and have players on the All-Star roster for the first time. Ream was voted in as one of the first XI selected by a media and fan vote. midfielders Pep Biel and Ashley Westwood were added by coach Dean Smith.
A notable absence is Diego Luna, who missed out on the U.S. World Cup roster despite a strong start to the MLS campaign with Real Salt Lake.
Will Lionel Messi attend the MLS All-Star Game?
While Messi was named to the team, his presence in Charlotte is hardly guaranteed. The former FC Barcelona star was named to last year's game in Austin, but he and then-Inter Miami teammate Jordi Alba skipped the game and were suspended for Inter Miami's next match.
Messi hopes to be playing in the World Cup through the July 19 final and is likely to take time off after the World Cup regardless of how the Albiceleste finish. The July 29 game may be a casualty of that run.
His teammate for club and country, midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, is in the same situation. The two Argentina stars are the only players on the All-Star roster still alive in the World Cup.
Full MLS All-Star roster to face Liga MX in Charlotte
GOALKEEPERS (3)
- Maxime Crépeau (Orlando City SC; Coach’s Selection)
- Matt Freese (New York City FC; Coach’s Selection)
- Brian Schwake (Nashville SC; Voted In)
DEFENDERS (10)
- Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew; Coach’s Selection)
- Lucas Herrington (Colorado Rapids; Coach’s Selection)
- Richie Laryea (Toronto FC; Commissioner’s Pick)
- Anthony Markanich (Minnesota United FC; Voted In)
- Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Chicago Fire FC; Voted In)
- Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew; Coach’s Selection)
- Daniel Munie (San Jose Earthquakes; Coach’s Selection)
- Andy Najar (Nashville SC; Voted In)
- Jackson Ragen (Seattle Sounders FC; Coach’s Selection)
- Tim Ream (Charlotte FC; Voted In)
MIDFIELDERS (9)
- Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps FC; Voted In)
- Pep Biel (Charlotte FC; Coach’s Selection)
- Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami CF; Coach’s Selection)
- Evander (FC Cincinnati; Coach’s Selection)
- Carles Gil (New England Revolution; Coach’s Selection)
- Zavier Gozo (Real Salt Lake; Voted In)
- Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC; Voted In)
- Thomas Müller (Vancouver Whitecaps FC; Coach’s Selection)
- Ashley Westwood (Charlotte FC; Coach’s Selection)
FORWARDS (7)
- Hugo Cuypers (Chicago Fire FC; Voted In)
- Anders Dreyer (San Diego FC; Coach’s Selection)
- Julian Hall (Red Bull New York; Commissioner’s Pick)
- Son Heung-Min (LAFC; Voted In)
- Leo Messi (Inter Miami CF; Voted In)
- Petar Musa (FC Dallas; Coach’s Selection)
- Sam Surridge (Nashville SC; Coach’s Selection)
Who is on the Liga MX All-Star team?
Liga MX has announced a portion of its squad that will contest the match, with its award finalists on the team.
Several players, including Toluca midfielder Marcel Ruiz who is recovering from surgery to repair a torn ACL, will be replaced.
GOALKEEPERS (2)
- Nahuel Guzmán - Tigres
- Keylor Navas - Pumas
DEFENDERS (3)
- Jesús Gallardo - Toluca
- Bryan González - Chivas
- Federico Pereira - Toluca
MIDFIELDERS (7)
- Kevin Castañeda - Club Tijuana
- Nicolás Castro - Toluca
- Fernando Gorriarán - Tigres
- Brian Gutiérrez - Chivas
- Erik Lira - Cruz Azul
- Marcel Ruiz - Toluca
- Santiago Sandoval - Chivas
FORWARDS (2)
- Armando "Hormiga" González - Chivas
- João Pedro - Atlético de San Luis
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLS All-Star roster is out: Messi and Cape Verde's World Cup hero headline
Continue reading...
