​A number of World Cup standouts headline Major League Soccer’s All-Star selections this year, with Lionel Messi of Argentina and Cape Verde defender Steven Moreira, who faced Messi in the round of 32, leading the group of 13 World Cup participants named to the MLS squad that will square off against Mexico’s Liga MX All-Star team. The roster also includes four players who were part of the United States’ World Cup squad: NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese, Charlotte FC center back Tim Ream, Columbus Crew defender Max Arfsten, and Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, bringing the total to 29 players.
There is also room for rising American talents. Real Salt Lake attacker Zavier Gozo, 19, and 18-year-old New York Red Bulls forward Julian Hall earned spots on the team. Hall is one of two players selected by MLS commissioner Don Garber. First-place Nashville SC features the largest contingent on the roster with four players: attackers Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge, fullback Andy Najar, and goalkeeper Brian Schwake. Charlotte SC, the Southern rival, will host the All-Star game and has representatives on the roster for the first time, with Ream voted in as one of the starting XI by a combination of media and fan votes, and midfielders Pep Biel and Ashley Westwood added by coach Dean Smith.
A notable absence from the group is Diego Luna, who, despite a strong MLS campaign with Real Salt Lake, did not make the United States World Cup squad. Messi’s inclusion on the All-Star list comes with caveats; he and former Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba, who joined Inter Miami, skipped last year’s game in Austin and were suspended from Inter Miami’s next match. Messi hopes to continue playing for Argentina through the World Cup final on July 19, and is expected to take time off after the tournament regardless of Argentina’s progress. The July 29 All-Star game could be affected by that schedule. His club and country teammate Rodrigo De Paul is in a similar situation, and the two Argentina stars are the only players on the All-Star roster still active in the World Cup.
Goalkeepers (3): Brian Schwake (Nashville SC; voted in).
Defenders (10): Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew; coach’s selection), Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew; coach’s selection), Andy Najar (Nashville SC; voted in), 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), 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), plus two additional selections to round out the midfield group, including the two Argentina-based stars who are still active in the World Cup.
The all-star event, hosted by Charlotte, will feature a diverse mix of MLS veterans and young prospects, together with players with string World Cup resumes, highlighting the league’s quality and depth as it showcases its best talent against some of the league’s fiercest rivals from Liga MX.