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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
FC Dallas’ Ricardo Pepi
LA Galaxy’s Julian Araujo
LA Galaxy’s Chicharito
Atlanta United’s Miles Robinson
Real Salt Lake’s Damir Kreilach
Sporting Kansas City’s Daniel Salloi
Columbus Crew’s Lucas Zelarayan
Minnesota’s Emanuel Reynoso
New England Revolution’s Gustavo Bou, Tajon Buchanan, Carles Gil and Matt Turner
NYCFC’s James Sands
Orlando City’s Nani and Pedro Gallese
Philadelphia Union’s Kai Wagner
Seattle Sounders’ Yeimar Gomez Andrade, Nouhou Tolo, Joao Paulo, Alex Roldan, Cristian Roldan and Raul Ruidiaz
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
