MLS
Can you vote for Lionel Messi in the MLS All-Star team?
The Inter Miami captain would be a popular choice but the MLS - Liga MX clash takes place just days after the Copa América final.
This summer’s MLS All-Star Game is already the subject of much discussion. On 24 July, for just the third time in the fixture’s 28-year history, the best players in MLS will be taking on a Liga MX select XI.
Comparisons between the two leagues are nothing new but the comparative strength of MLS and Liga MLS has become a particularly talked-about matter in the past year, in the aftermath of Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup triumph. Last year Miami, inspired by the recent arrival of Lionel Messi, came out on top of the joint MLS - Liga MX competition.
MLS fans will be hoping that the United States’ top flight can make a claim for supremacy at the All-Star Game but the availability of their biggest star has been questioned. With Lionel Messi hoping to lead Argentina to the Copa América final on 15 July, is he likely to play in the All-Star game, little over a week later?
Official word has not yet been given and the final decision will likely be fitness based. However Messi is one of the players able to be selected on the MLS All-Star Fan Vote page, suggesting that he is in contention to feature in Columbus. In fact, AS USA reported earlier this year that MLS had moved the All-Star Game date to one that better suited Messi’s schedule.
How to vote for the MLS All-Star team
The 2024 MLS All-Star team will be led by 2023 MLS Cup winner Wilfried Nancy. The Columbus Crew head coach will be able to select 12 members of his 26-man roster, with MLS commissioner Don Garber given two picks.
The remaining 12 players will be decided by a vote of MLS players, supporters and media members. Each of those three groups will be given a one-third vote for those 12 spots.
To vote for your favourite MLS stars, head over to the MLS All-Star Fan Vote page to submit your selections.
You will be able to choose 11 players in a 4-3-3 formation, with one goalkeeper, one right back, two centre backs, one left back, one defensive midfielder, two attacking midfielders and three forwards. The 12th man selected will be the player with the highest overall votes not included in the first 11.
Voting for the MLS All-Star team ends at 11:59pm (PT) on Monday, 10 June. Once the roster has been selected a separate vote will be held to decide the MLS All-Star captain, who will lead the MLS select XI as the players compete against the best that the top flight of Mexican soccer has to offer.