Austin, Texas, is currently the epicenter of American soccer as Major League Soccer (MLS) reaches its season`s midpoint, culminating in the annual All-Star festivities. This year, the league`s top players, with the notable exception of Lionel Messi, are set to compete in an exhibition match against the elite Liga MX All-Stars.
It has been confirmed by Inter Miami that both Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba will not be participating in the game. The club has not provided an official explanation for their absence from the final roster, which was announced recently.
This will be the fourth time these two prominent North American leagues have met on the pitch for an All-Star showdown. MLS currently holds a 2-1 advantage in the series history. The upcoming match is expected to be a star-studded affair, with Liga MX boasting renowned international talents such as Sergio Ramos and James Rodriguez among its ranks.
All-Star week has already delivered excitement, with MLS securing a victory over Liga MX in the skills challenge. Furthermore, the MLS Next Pro Eastern Conference defeated the Western Conference 4-3 in a thrilling game where all seven goals were scored by different players. Fans are hopeful that the main MLS vs. Liga MX clash will live up to the high-scoring and entertaining standard set by these preceding events.
Match Information
- Date: Wednesday, July 23
- Time: 9 p.m. ET
- Location: Q2 Stadium, Austin, Texas
- Live Stream: MLS Season Pass
Recent Encounters
In their most recent fixture, the Liga MX All-Stars secured a decisive 4-1 victory over MLS in Columbus. This result followed two consecutive wins for MLS in their previous matchups, adding an intriguing dynamic to the rivalry.
MLS All-Stars Roster
- Goalkeepers: Dayne St. Clair (Minnesota United FC), Brad Stuver (Austin FC), Yohei Takaoka (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
- Defenders: Jordi Alba (Inter Miami CF), Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Tristan Blackmon (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Michael Boxall (Minnesota United FC), Alex Freeman (Orlando City), Jakob Glesnes (Philadelphia Union), Andy Najar (Nashville SC), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Kai Wagner (Philadelphia Union)
- Midfielders: Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Cristian Espinoza (San Jose Earthquakes), Evander (FC Cincinnati), Carles Gil (New England Revolution), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC), Jeppe Tverskov (San Diego FC), Obed Vargas (Seattle Sounders FC), Philip Zinckernagel (Chicago Fire FC)
- Forwards: Tai Baribo (Philadelphia Union), Denis Bouanga (LAFC), Anders Dreyer (San Diego FC), Chucky Lozano (San Diego FC), Marco Pašalić (Orlando City), Diego Rossi (Columbus Crew), Sam Surridge (Nashville SC), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
Liga MX All-Stars Roster
- Goalkeepers: Luis Malagón (Club América), Kevin Mier (Cruz Azul)
- Defenders: Sebastián Cáceres (Club América), Willer Ditta (Cruz Azul), Luan García (Toluca), Jesús Gallardo (Toluca), Joaquim Pereira (Tigres UANL), Sergio Ramos (CF Monterrey), Israel Reyes (Club América), Ignacio Rivero (Cruz Azul), Carlos Rotondi (Cruz Azul)
- Midfielders: Roberto Alvarado (Chivas Guadalajara), Juan Brunetta (Tigres UANL), Sergio Canales (CF Monterrey), Rodrigo Dourado (Atlético San Luis), Érik Lira (Cruz Azul), Elías Montiel (CF Pachuca), Gilberto Mora (Club Tijuana), James Rodríguez (Club León), Marcel Ruíz (Toluca), Agustín Palavecino (Necaxa), Alejandro Zendejas (Club América)
- Forwards: Diber Cambindo (Necaxa), Hugo Camberos (Chivas Guadalajara), Uroš Đurđević (Atlas), Henry Martín (Club América), Paulinho (Toluca), Brian Rodríguez (Club América), Alexis Vega (Toluca)
Match Prediction
Without the presence of Lionel Messi, the MLS All-Stars face a formidable challenge. Liga MX`s strong attacking quality is expected to be a decisive factor in the outcome. Predicted Score: Liga MX 2, MLS 1.
