Messi and Alba lead the list of MLS stars for the All-Star Game
Inter Miami players Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba have been selected for the 26-player Major League Soccer (MLS) All-Star roster, which will compete against the best of Liga MX at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, on July 23.
The United States team, participating in this summer’s Gold Cup, is also well represented, with seven players selected for Mauricio Pochettino’s team as All-Stars.
The league builds the roster through a combination of fan, player, and media voting (12 players), All-Star selections and Austin FC coach Nico Estévez (12 players), and two selections by MLS commissioner Don Garber.
Messi and Alba were voted onto the roster by the fans, marking their second call-up after receiving the league honor in 2024. Although Alba participated in the event against the Liga MX stars in 2024, Messi was unable to play due to an ankle injury sustained during the Copa América final with Argentina.
Despite being part of the 2024 roster, Luis Suárez and Sergio Busquets did not get the necessary votes from the fans to join the team nor did they receive the coach’s selection this year.
American players Patrick Agyemang, Max Arfsten, Sebastian Berhalter, Alex Freeman, Diego Luna, Miles Robinson, and Brian White will also join the MLS All-Stars in Austin. Agyemang was chosen by the league commissioner to travel to Austin, while the rest of the USMNT additions vary between fan, player, and media votes, as well as coach selections.
Garber chose San Diego FC’s designated player, Hirving Lozano, as his second commissioner’s selection.
A few All-Stars will also participate in the MLS Skills Challenge, which will take place on July 22 at Q2 Stadium.
The Liga MX won the last edition of the All-Star match between the two leagues, triumphing 4-1 at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio, in 2024.
