The top stars from Major League Soccer will be putting themselves to the test against their Mexican counterparts in Columbus. Ohio this week.
Andy HallUpdate: Jul 21st, 2024 13:43 EDT0
Isaiah J. DowningUSA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Columbus, Ohio is putting the final preparations in place for the 2024 MLS All-Star match, which for the third time in history, will pit the star players from Major League Soccer against those from neighboring Mexico.
A select MLS side will put itself to the test against a Liga MX All-Star XI in what traditionally has been a close game – the cream of MLS won the last meeting 2-1 in August 2022 and the one before that ended level, with the hosts sneaking victory in the shootout.
This year's @MLS All-Star Game presented by @Target will continue the League's unprecedented run of partner activity around All-Star Week.The All-Star festivities officially kick off with Soccer Celebration on July 20.https://t.co/rBhFnJ8tTs
— MLS Communications (@MLS_PR) July 19, 2024
Columbus Crew’s Wilfried Nancy will be in the dugout overseeing the Major League Soccer XI, while Mexico’s two-time champion and current Club América coach, André Jardine, will coach the Liga MX All-Star side with the action taking place out on the pitch of the reigning MLS champions, the Columbus Crew.
The 30 players who will represent Major League Soccer against the top stars of the Liga MX were selected by various means – 16 were handpicked by Wilfried Nancy, another 12 came from a combined vote from fans, sportswriters and players and two were selected by MLS Commissioner Don Garber.
Bouanga strikes again to double his tally.✌️ pic.twitter.com/ttMOrNuExu
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 21, 2024
Big names and familiar faces in the All-Star rosters
There are some notable absentees – the main one being Lionel Messi who is still recovering from the ankle injury he suffered in Argentina’s recent Copa América triumph. Three of his Inter Miami team mates: Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, will be taking part alongside MLS leading scorer Cristian Arango, Riqui Puig, Christian Benteke, Denis Bouanga, Cucho Hernández…
On the opposite side, will be the stars of Mexico’s top flight including players such as Andre-Pierre Gignac, Guillermo Martínez, Oussama Idrissi, Salomón Rondón and a couple of names who will be familiar to both MLS fans and Inter Miami’s ex-LaLiga contingent: Jonathan Dos Santos and Sergio Canales.
