On Wednesday, Major League Soccer announced its 28-player roster for the 2021 MLS All-Star Game. On Wednesday, Aug. 25, this group will play a highly anticipated match against the Liga MX All-Stars at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles.
Some of the players have been here before (LAFC’s Carlos Vela, Orlando City’s Nani, Nashville’s Walker Zimmerman), but a number of players have been selected for the first time, including rising stars like San Jose’s Cade Cowell, Dallas’ Ricardo Pepi and New England’s Tajon Buchanan.
If you don’t think the recognition means a lot to these players, I challenge you to watch these incredibly wholesome videos from around the league. It looks like the roster was a well-kept secret, and teams did an excellent job — often utilizing family or just plain tomfoolery — of revealing the selections to their players.
2021 MLS All-Star Game Roster: Player Reactions
San Jose’s Cade Cowell
A special surprise with the team.
— San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) August 4, 2021
FC Dallas’ Ricardo Pepi
Ricardo Pepi has always been Family First.
No better way to give him the news. pic.twitter.com/jvlAlLxMXK— FC Dallas :) (@FCDallas) August 4, 2021
LA Galaxy’s Julian Araujo
- @Julian__Araujo's parents made the trip from Lompoc to let the #LAGalaxy defender know he made his first-ever #MLSAllStar squad pic.twitter.com/X0KyECfQDC
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) August 4, 2021
LA Galaxy’s Chicharito
Chicharito's face when his family surprised him with his #MLSAllStar kit #LAGalaxy x @CH14_ pic.twitter.com/XH8YDyLtQs
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) August 4, 2021
Atlanta United’s Miles Robinson
What a week for No. 1️⃣2️⃣‼️
Congrats @_MilesRobinson_, you’re an #MLSAllStar ⭐️— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) August 4, 2021
Real Salt Lake’s Damir Kreilach
Damir Kreilach: @MLS All-Star
Got a nice ring to it if ya ask us. pic.twitter.com/qcPwFOqxUp— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) August 4, 2021
Sporting Kansas City’s Daniel Salloi
✨ Surprising our #MLSAllStar ✨ @danielsalloi thought he was talking about his academy growth experience.
He was actually learning he's #SportingKC first academy product selected for the @MLS All-Star Game pic.twitter.com/RcSoOmy6es— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) August 4, 2021
Columbus Crew’s Lucas Zelarayan
Lucas Zelarayan.
⭐️ - ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/PZdvWMEih1— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) August 4, 2021
Minnesota’s Emanuel Reynoso
Please, baby, MORE parties in L.A. pic.twitter.com/frYihzZV1L
— Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) August 4, 2021
New England Revolution’s Gustavo Bou, Tajon Buchanan, Carles Gil and Matt Turner
Bruce wanted to surprise the team before a recent training session letting them know who our #MLSAllStar picks would be!
— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) August 4, 2021
NYCFC’s James Sands
Incoming call for @jamessands_16 ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/3Vr2awCY7I
— New York City FC (@NYCFC) August 4, 2021
Orlando City’s Nani and Pedro Gallese
The moment our boys were 2021 MLS All-Stars ✨ #VamosOrlando | #MLSAllStars pic.twitter.com/cCDuau3Hve
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) August 4, 2021
Philadelphia Union’s Kai Wagner
We had very special guests surprise our All-Star with the awesome news #DOOP https://t.co/t1e9AdHFfK pic.twitter.com/sANSGgJpvu
— PhilaUnion (@PhilaUnion) August 4, 2021
Seattle Sounders’ Yeimar Gomez Andrade, Nouhou Tolo, Joao Paulo, Alex Roldan, Cristian Roldan and Raul Ruidiaz
"The collective success of this group has given us something that's really special"
Watch Coach Schmetzer reveal our #MLSAllStar selections to the squad! pic.twitter.com/ZwZZQAjsNU— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) August 4, 2021
2021 MLS ALL-STAR GAME ROSTERS FOR MLS AND LIGA MX
2021 MLS ALL-STARS ROSTER
Manager: LAFC’s Bob Bradley
GOALKEEPERS (2): Pedro Gallese (Orlando City SC)^, Matt Turner (New England Revolution)*
DEFENDERS (9): Julian Araujo (LA Galaxy), Yeimar Gómez Andrade (Sounders FC)^, Jesus Murillo (LAFC), Nouhou (Sounders FC)^, Miles Robinson (Atlanta United FC), Alex Roldan (Sounders FC)^, James Sands (NYCFC), Kai Wagner (Philadelphia Union)*, Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)^
MIDFIELDERS (7): Eduard Atuesta (LAFC), Carles Gil (New England Revolution)^, João Paulo (Sounders FC)^, Damir Kreilach (Real Salt Lake), Emanuel Reynoso (Minnesota United FC), Cristian Roldan (Sounders FC)^, Lucas Zelarayan (Columbus Crew SC)^
FORWARDS/WINGERS (10): Gustavo Bou (New England Revolution), Tajon Buchanan (New England Revolution)#, Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes)#, Javier Hernández (LA Galaxy)^, Nani (Orlando City SC)^, Ricardo Pepi (FC Dallas), Diego Rossi (LAFC), Raúl Ruidíaz (Sounders FC)^, Daniel Sallói (Sporting Kansas City), Carlos Vela (LAFC)^
^Fan / player / media vote
*Bob Bradley selection
#Commissioner Don Garber selection
2021 LIGA MX ALL-STARS ROSTER
Manager: Cruz Azul’s Juan Reynoso Guzman
GOALKEEPERS (3): Guillermo Ochoa (América), Coach's pick, Alfredo Talavera (Pumas UNAM), Golden Ball: Best Goalkeeper, Jesús Corona (Cruz Azul), Golden Ball: GK nominee
DEFENDERS (9): Pablo Aguilar (Cruz Azul), Golden Ball: Best defender nominee, Matheus Doria (Santos Laguna), Golden Ball: Best defender, Victor Guzman (Tijuana), Golden Ball: Best rookie, Cesar Montes (Monterrey), Coach's Pick, William Tesillo (León), Coach's Pick, Juan Escobar (Cruz Azul), Coach's pick, Jesús Gallardo (Monterrey), Coach's pick, Fernando Navarro (León), Golden Ball: Best fullback, Salvador Reyes (Puebla), Golden Ball: Best FB nominee
MIDFIELDERS (8): Pedro Aquino (América), Coach's pick, Fernando Gorriarán (Santos Laguna), Golden Ball: Best DM nominee, Angel Mena (León), Coach's pick, Luis Montes (León), Golden Ball: Best AM, Guido Pizarro (Tigres), Coach's pick, Luis Romo (Cruz Azul), Golden Ball: Best DM, Rubens Sambueza (Toluca), Golden Ball: Best AM nominee, Diego Valdés (Santos Laguna), Coach's pick
FORWARDS (5): Alexis Canelo (Toluca), Golden Ball: Forward nominee, André-Pierre Gignac (Tigres), Coach's pick, Rogelio Funes Mori (Monterrey), Coach's pick, Santiago Muñoz (Santos Laguna), Golden Ball: Best Rookie nominee, Jonathan Rodríguez (Cruz Azul), Golden Ball: Best Forward
