Reigning MVP Hany Mukhtar highlights MLS All-Star roster that may face Arsenal

NEW YORK (AP) – Reigning league MVP Hany Mukhtar and teammate Walker Zimmerman from Nashville, LAFC scoring chief Dénis Bouanga and high newcomer Giorgos Giakoumakis spotlight the 26-player roster for the Major League Soccer All-Star Game.

The MLS All-Stars introduced Tuesday will face Premier League powerhouse Arsenal on July 19 in Washington.

The 26-player roster consists of 12 gamers voted into the sport by a mixture of followers, gamers and media, 12 chosen by D.C. United and All-Star head coach Wayne Rooney and two commissioners’ alternatives.

FC Cincinnati, at present main the Supporters’ Shield standings with 43 factors, has probably the most alternatives of any membership with three – midfielder Luciano Acosta and defenders Álvaro Barreal and Matt Miazga.

A complete of 17 completely different golf equipment can be represented within the All-Star Game and 19 of the 26 gamers are first-time alternatives.

After successful his first MVP final season, Mukhtar leads the league with 13 objectives in 20 matches performed for Nashville. He’ll be joined by Zimmerman, who was chosen to the All-Star group for the fourth time in his profession.

Not far behind within the race for the league’s high aim scorer is Bouanga, who has picked up his scoring in his second season with LAFC with 11 objectives in 16 matches. LAFC defender Ryan Hollingshead was additionally chosen to the group.

Giakoumakis has scored 10 instances in his first season with Atlanta United and can be joined by teammate Thiago Almada, who’s tied for the league lead in assists with 9.

Other groups with two gamers within the sport embrace Columbus (midfielders Aidan Morris and Lucas Zelarayán); D.C. United (goalkeeper Tyler Miller and ahead Christian Benteke); and enlargement membership St. Louis CITY (goalkeeper Roman Bürki and defender Tim Parker).

Chicago’s Kei Kamara and CF Montréal’s Mathieu Choinière have been added because the alternatives by MLS Commissioner Don Garber. Kamara is one aim shy of tying Landon Donovan for second-most in MLS historical past.

2023 MLS All-Star Game Roster

Goalkeepers: Roman Bürki (St. Louis CITY/voted in), Tyler Miller (D.C. United/coach’s choice), Djordje Petrović (New England Revolution/coach’s choice).

Defenders: Álvaro Barreal (FC Cincinnati/voted in), Jon Gallagher (Austin FC/voted in), Ryan Hollingshead (LAFC/coach’s choice), Matt Miazga (FC Cincinnati/voted in), Tim Parker (St. Louis CITY/coach’s choice), John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls/coach’s choice), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville/voted in).

Midfielders: Luciano Acosta (FC Cincinnati/voted in), Thiago Almada (Atlanta United /voted in), Mathieu Choinière (CF Montréal/commissioner’s choice), Héctor Herrera (Houston Dynamo/coach’s choice), José Martinez (Philadelphia Union/coach’s choice), Aidan Morris (Columbus Crew/voted in), Hany Mukhtar (Nashville/voted in), Riqui Puig (LA Galaxy/coach’s choice), Lucas Zelarayán (Columbus Crew/coach’s choice).

Forwards: Christian Benteke (D.C. United/coach’s choice), Dénis Bouanga (LAFC/voted in), Cristian Espinoza (San Jose Earthquakes/coach’s choice), Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas/voted in), Giorgos Giakoumakis (Atlanta United/coach’s choice), Kei Kamara (Chicago Fire/commissioner’s choice), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders/voted in).

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