Inter Miami star Lionel Messi of Argentina was among the first 11 players named on Friday to the MLS squad for next month’s MLS All-Star Game at Charlotte, North Carolina.
The MLS lineup, including at least five players competing in the World Cup, 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 plus 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.
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