All-Star roster: which MLS & Liga MX stars will play on 25 August?
The 2021 All-Star Game kicks off at 9pm ET (6pm PT) on Wednesday, 25 August at the Banc of California Stadium, Los Angeles, home to LAFC.
The 2021 All-Star Game kicks off at 9pm ET (6pm PT) on Wednesday, 25 August at the Banc of California Stadium, Los Angeles, home to LAFC.
The 2021 match will be the 25th edition of the event, but the first time ever that the MLS side will play an All-Star side from the Liga MX.
The game was originally scheduled to take place on 29 July 2020, during the 2020 season, but was postponed on 19 May 2020, due to the pandemic.
Seattle presence
The Seattle Sounders are the MLS club with the highest amount of selected players to play in the 2021 All-Star Game with Sounders' six selections tied for the second-most in league history. D.C. United’s 2006 squad holds the record with eight selections, while the San Jose Earthquakes and FC Dallas also had six in 2002 and in 2005, respectively.
The player selection process was was determined by a combination of fan, player and media voting (13 players), selections by All-Star and LAFC Head Coach Bob Bradley (13 players) and a pair of selections by MLS Commissioner Don Garber.
Liga MX selection process
The first 14 selections on the side from Mexico were winners and nominees for the Balón de Oro awards within the categories of best goalkeeper, fullback, defender, defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder, rookie and forward. Cruz Azul Head Coach Juan Reynoso, after being chosen as Liga MX head coach of the season, selected 11 players to complement the squad.
MLS All-Star Game rosters
MLS All-Stars
Goalkeepers: Matt Turner (New England Revolution), Pedro Gallese (Orlando City)
Defenders: Julian Araujo (LA Galaxy), Jesus David Murillo (LAFC), Nouhou (Seattle Sounders), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United), Alex Roldan (Seatlle Sounders), James Sands (NYFC), Kai Wagner (Philadelphia Union), Yeimar (Seattle Sounders), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)
Midfielders: Eduard Atuesta (LAFC), Carles Gil (New England Revolution), Damir Kreilach (Real Salt Lake), Joao Paulo (Seattle Sounders), Emanuel Reynoso (Minnesota United), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders), Lucas Zelarayán (Columbus Crew)
Forwards: Gustavo Bou (New England Revolution), Tajon Buchanan (New England Revolution), Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes), Javier Hernandez (LA Galaxy), Nani (Orlando City), Ricardo Pepi (FC Dallas), Diego Rossi (LAFC), Raúl Ruidíaz (Seattle Sounders), Dániel Sallói (Sporting Kansas City), Carlos Vela (LAFC)
Liga MX All-Stars
Goalkeepers: Guillermo Ochoa (América), Alfredo Talavera (Pumas), Nahuel Guzmán (UANL)
Defenders: William Tesillo (León), Matheus Dória (Santos), Victor Andrés Guzmán (Tijuana), Jorge Sánchez (América), Salvador Reyes (Puebla), Jesús Gallardo (Monterrey), Pablo Aguilar (Cruz Azul), César Montes (Monterrey) and Juan Escobar (Cruz Azul)
Midfielders: Luis Montes (León), Rubens Sambueza (Toluca), Fernando Gorriarán (Santos), Luis Romo (Cruz Azul), Guido Pizarro (Tigres), Pedro Aquino (América), Ángel Mena (León) and Diego Valdés (Santos)
Forwards: Santiago Muñoz (Santos), Jonathan Rodríguez (Cruz Azul), Alexis Canelo (Toluca), Gignac (Tigres) and Rogelio Funes Mori (Monterrey)