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Inter Miami star Lionel Messi has been named in the first group of 11 players selected for the Major League Soccer (MLS) All-Star team ahead of next month’s All-Star Game in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The MLS list, which was revealed on Friday, includes at least five players competing in the 2026 World Cup and will face an all-star squad from the Mexican league on July 29.
The MLS “First XI” was chosen in a combined vote of players, fans and media and includes five players on World Cup rosters: Messi; South Korean Son Heung-min of Los Angeles FC; Americans Tim Ream of Charlotte and Sebastian Berhalter of Vancouver; and South African Mbekezeli Mbokazi of Chicago.
Others in the first batch of MLS All-Stars include: goalkeeper Brian Schwake of Nashville; defensive backs Anthony Markanich of Minnesota United and Honduran Andy Najar of Nashville; midfielders Zavier Gozo of Real Salt Lake and German Hany Mukhtar of Nashville; and Belgian forward Hugo Cuypers of Chicago.
Mbokazi became the second South African selected to an MLS All-Star squad after Doctor Khumalo in 1996, while Son was the second South Korean named an MLS All-Star after national team coach and former Los Angeles Galaxy defender Hong Myung-bo in 2003.
The final MLS Lineup will also include 13 players chosen by MLS All-Star coach Dean Smith of host Charlotte and two chosen by MLS commissioner Don Garber.
