2025 MLS All-Stars: Can the MLS Boys Make up for Last Year?
by Bradley Gibbs | by Tyler Doty
When is the MLS All-Stars game?
The 2025 MLS All-Stars game is now very nearly upon us. This year, the game will take place on Wednesday, June 24th, with kick off set for 9:00 EST.
For the fourth year in a row, the MLS All-Stars game will be held in the United States, and having been hosted in Columbus (Ohio), Saint Paul (Minnesota) and Los Angeles (California), we’re now off to Austin, Texas, where the game will be played at Q2 Stadium, the home of Austin FC. The venue should be particularly pleasing to Brad Stuver, who plays his soccer for El Tree.
Whose in the squad this time around?
Right, so who is in the squad ahead of the 2025 renewal of this entertaining sideshow? Let’s start with the familiar faces, of which there are a few. Jordi Alba, Denis Bouanga, Diego Luna, and Hany Mukhtar are all back having featured in 2024, but otherwise, the roster has a rather different look.
Especially on defense, we’re going to see a brand new All-Star set up. As touched on above, Jordi Alba remains, but elsewhere at the back, wholesale changes have been made, with none of the other eight defenders featuring last year. New arrivals include Max Arfsten, Andy Najar and Alex Freeman.
Further forward, after impressing for the Vancouver Whitecaps, Sebastian Berhalter is in, as are Jeppe Tverskov and Philip Zinckernagel. Oh, and there’s the fairly notable addition of a certain Lionel Messi, who was due to feature in 2024, but missed out due to injury.
Here is the full roster for the MLS All-Stars ahead of Wednesday’s action:
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 | Voted In
- Alex Freeman - Orlando City | Voted In
- Jakob Glesnes - Philadelphia Union | Coach’s Selection
- Andy Najar - Nashville SC | Coach’s Selection
- Miles Robinson - FC Cincinnati | Coach’s Selection
- Kai Wagner - Philadelphia Union | Coach's Selection.
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
- Lionel Messi - Inter Miami CF
- Marco Pašalić - Orlando City
- Diego Rossi - Columbus Crew
- Sam Surridge - Nashville SC
- Brian White - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Keep an eye out for these Liga MX stars
Those who mainly follow Major League Soccer won’t be as well acquainted with the Liga MX All-Stars, but take it from me, you’re going to see some talented individuals, that’s for sure.
Watch out for the following Liga MX stars:
Alexis Vega
Arguably the best player playing in Mexico right now, Alexis Vega is a mercurial talent who should be known by fans of the US men’s national team. Vega was key to Mexico’s recent CONCACAF Gold Cup success, which followed an unbelievable season for Toluca, for whom the winger/forward scored 16 goals and assisted 13 goals in 42 appearances.
Gilberto Mora
Capped by Mexico at the recent CONCACAF Gold Cup, this exciting 16-year-old, who will be Liga MX’s youngest ever representative in this fixture, is a player with a bright future. Having provided a key semi-final assist as the Mexicans achieved continental glory over the summer, the youngster has made a bright start to the Liga MX campaign for Tijuana, and he’s definitely one to watch here.
James Rodriguez
Soccer fans around the world know what James Rodriguez is capable of. Now very much into the twilight of his career, the man who scored one of the greatest FIFA World Cup goals of all time, now plays his club soccer with Mexican team Leon, for whom he scored a fine goal just a few days ago. A smooth operator with an eye for goal, the Colombian international is expected to enjoy himself on Wednesday.
Juan Brunetta
We couldn’t mention a few Liga MX names without bringing up Juan Brunetta, who is without a doubt one of the finest players currently operating in the Mexican top division. The Argentine forward was instrumental for Tigres last season, scoring and assisting 16 goals, propelling his team to a third-place finish. Now hitting his peak, the 28-year-old is fancied to enjoy another strong season this time around, and he can start by showing what he’s made of in Austin.
Can the MLS All-Stars turn it around this year?
Before we get into whether or not we should expect better from the MLS All-Star this time around, let’s quickly look at the history of this fixture:
- 2024: MLS All-Stars 1 - 4 Liga MX All-Stars
- 2022: MLS All-Stars 2 - 1 Liga MX All-Stars
- 2021: MLS All-Stars 1 - 1 Liga MX All-Stars (MLS All-Stars won on penalties)
So having scooped the prize in each of the first two years of this relatively new fixture, the MLS All-Stars had their bubble burst in rather devastating fashion last year, with the men from Liga MX running out as comfortable winners.
So, can we expect to see the MLS boys get a better result? Personally, I think so. Sure, the Liga MX guys are not easy to face, but the 2025 All-Stars look a cut above what we saw last year, at least on paper.
There’s plenty of youthful exuberance in the squad, that’s for sure. At the same time, the additions of hugely in-form offensive players such as Anders Dreyer, Marco Pasalic and Sam Surridge should help the men from Major League Soccer to pack more of a punch in the final third. At the same time, let’s face it, the addition of Lionel Messi won’t exactly hurt.
Sure, the result was a little embarrassing for those from Major League Soccer a year ago, but it was also a result that flattered the Mexicans slightly. With more tools in their arsenal this time around, don’t be surprised to see something different result-wise. Frankly, given the quality at the disposal of coach Nico Estévez, I’d be surprised if this went the way of the Liga MX All-Stars, at least in regulation time.
