The MLS, like all of the most important sports leagues in America, prepares for a very specialdate, their All-Star Game. This time, the rival will be the Liga MX All-Stars team, who will also feature in a challenge prepared for the day prior, to further enlightment of the fans.
Possible absentees
Considering Messi’s late arrival to the MLS last season, this time seemed like the perfect chance to see the Argentine feature in an All-Star game for the first time. However, the possibility that was making the directives of the league feel euphoric suffered a great hit. The GOAT got injured in the Copa América final this past weekend, and the swelling in his ankle pointed to an extended absence. All experts are talking about a sprain, which would take several weeks of recovery.
It is not the first time this kind of situation is an obstacle for the MLS branding. For no one it is a secret that Inter Miami was the team pointed out this season to bring the CONCACAF Champions Cup back to the US, but Messi’s injury woes were an obstacle for a team that, in the end, was steam-rolled by Monterrey. With the Argentine’s age and his not-so-long contract, we are yet to see if the expectations put on the Herons’ ambitious project take them somewhere.
Another name to point out is Luciano Acosta, as the attacking midfielder, one of the candidates for player of the season, had to go out in Cincinnati’s defeat this weekend, raising concerns about his availability. This wasn’t the best weekend for the MLS, as they could potentially lose two of their best players in a few hours.
The rosters
Both teams have already named their full roosters for the event, so here we go:
MLS:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Roman Bürki (St. Louis CITY SC / Coach’s Selection), Hugo Lloris (LAFC / Coach’s Selection), Maarten Paes (FC Dallas / Voted in)
DEFENDERS (9): Jordi Alba (Inter Miami CF / Voted In), Rudy Camacho (Columbus Crew / Coach’s Selection), Justen Glad (Real Salt Lake / Voted In), Aaron Herrera (D.C. United / Voted In), Thiago Martins (New York City FC / Coach’s Selection), Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew / Coach’s Selection), Luca Orellano (FC Cincinnati / Coach’s Selection), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati / Voted In), Keegan Rosenberry (Colorado Rapids / Coach’s Selection)
MIDFIELDERS (10): Luciano Acosta (FC Cincinnati / Voted In), Sergio Busquets (Inter Miami CF / Voted In), Mathieu Choinière (CF Montréal / Coach’s Selection), Evander (Portland Timbers / Coach’s Selection), Ryan Gauld (Vancouver Whitecaps FC / Coach’s Selection), Héctor Herrera (Houston Dynamo FC / Commissioner’s Pick), Robin Lod (Minnesota United FC / Coach’s Selection), Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC / Coach’s Selection), Darlington Nagbe (Columbus Crew / Commissioner’s Pick), Riqui Puig (LA Galaxy / Voted In)
FORWARDS / WINGERS (8): Cristian ‘Chicho’ Arango (Real Salt Lake / Voted In), Christian Benteke (D.C. United / Voted In), Federico Bernardeschi (Toronto FC / Coach’s Selection), Denis Bouanga (LAFC / Coach’s Selection), Juan ‘Cucho’ Hernández (Columbus Crew / Coach’s Selection), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF / Voted In)
Liga MX:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Ángel Malagón – Club America, Kevin Mier – Cruz Azul, and Fernando Tapia – Tigres UANL
DEFENDERS (9): Jesús Angulo – Tigres UANL, Brian García – Toluca, Bryan González – CF Pachuca, Alan Mozo – Guadalajara, Jesús Orozco – Guadalajara, Alexis Peña – Club Necaxa, Gonzalo Piovi – Cruz Azul, Guido Pizarro – Tigres UANL, and Juan Manuel Sanabria – Atlético San Luis
MIDFIELDERS (15): Roberto Alvarado – Guadalajara, Alán Bautista – CF Pachuca, Germán Berterame – CF Monterrey, Juan Brunetta – Tigres UANL, Sergio Canales – CF Monterrey, Nelson Deossa – CF Pachuca, Javairô Dilrosun – Club América, Jonathan Dos Santos – Club América, Rodrigo Dourado – Atlético San Luis, Álvaro Fidalgo – Club América, Andrés Guardado – Club León, César Huerta – Pumas UNAM, Oussama Idrissi – CF Pachuca, Maximiliano Meza – CF Monterrey, and Carlos Rodríguez – Cruz Azul
FORWARDS (3): Andre-Pierre Gignac – Tigres UANL, Guillermo Martínez – Pumas UNAM, and Salomón Rondón – CF Pachuca
In the case of the MLS, some players were voted in while the others were selected by the coach, with the distinction made on the list.
MLS All-Stars vs. Liga MX All-Stars Schedule
The main event will take place on Wednesday, July 24, at 8:00 pm ET at the Lower.com Field, while the challenge will take place the day prior, Tuesday 23.
Free Betting Pick: MLS All-Stars vs. Liga MX All-Stars
Truth be told, things are not looking good for the MLS All-Star team, as they will probably be without two of its best players. Although the team has a positive record of 11 wins and 9 losses, they tend to look out of place against elite teams, even in preseason. Their recent encounters against top competition have not been positive. However, they have something in their favor.
The Liga MX isn’t accustomed to assembling something like an All-Stars, and the times they have done so have been, precisely, for the friendly compromises against their neighbors. They have played two times against the MLS assembly and lost both.
In this context, it’s clear that the lack of experience of the Mexicans in this kind of event is key, so we’ll go for a victory for the US league squad. Bet on a 2-1 win for the locals.
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