Liga MX announces major changes to its MLS All-Star Game lineup
After a raft of withdrawals from its All-Star Game roster, the Mexican league has now confirmed its final squad for the exhibition match.
This Wednesday’s MLS All-Star Game will once again pit standout performers from Liga MX against their counterparts from Major League Soccer. However, Mexico’s top flight has run into difficulties assembling its strongest possible squad.
Throughout Monday, Liga MX was forced to deal with several withdrawals from players originally selected for the event. Among the notable absences are Tijuana’s Mexican World Cup star Gilberto Mora, as well as Pumas’ Keylor Navas and Chivas Guadalajara’s Armando “La Hormiga” González.
Amid the spate of pull-outs from this week’s showcase, Liga MX unveiled a revised 26-man roster for the All-Star Game. The team will be managed by Toluca head coach Antonio Mohamed.
Which players are in the Liga MX squad?
On Monday, Liga MX released its final roster for Wednesday’s game on social media. The selected players are:
- Carlos Acevedo (Santos Laguna)
- Carlos Moreno (Pachuca)
- Bruno Méndez (Toluca)
- Erik Lira (Cruz Azul)
- Federico Pereira (Toluca)
- Israel Reyes (América)
- Jesús Gallardo (Toluca)
- Jesús Garza (Tigres)
- Luis Rey (Guadalajara)
- Nathan Silva (Pumas)
- Omar Campos (Cruz Azul)
- Willer Ditta (Cruz Azul)
- Alexei Domínguez (Pachuca)
- Carlos Rodríguez (Cruz Azul)
- Elías Montiel (Pachuca)
- Fernando Gorriarán (Tigres)
- Franco Romero (Toluca)
- Iker Fimbres (Monterrey)
- José Paradela (Cruz Azul)
- Juan Brunetta (Tigres)
- Kevin Castañeda (Guadalajara)
- Javier Ruiz (Necaxa)
- Robert Morales (Pumas)
- Salomón Rondón (Pachuca)
Which Liga MX players will miss the All-Star Game?
Despite being included in the initial roster announcement, the following 11 players ultimately withdrew.
- Keylor Navas (Pumas)
- Gilberto Mora (Tijuana)
- Nahuel Guzmán (Tigres)
- Bryan González (Chivas)
- Richy Ledezma (Chivas)
- Brian Gutiérrez (Chivas)
- Armando González (Chivas)
- Santiago Sandoval (Chivas)
- Nicolás Castro (Toluca)
- Franco Romero (Toluca)
- Brian Rodríguez (América)
MLS also dealing with absences
MLS will not arrive at full strength either. Among its most notable absences are Inter Miami’s Argentina internationals Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul, both of whom are currently on vacation after the Albiceleste’s defeat to Spain in the World Cup final earlier this month.
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