Messi headlines MLS All-Star first XI for third straight year
Lionel Messi once again headlines the MLS All-Star first XI, with Son Heung-min also selected for the first time.
Messi has been selected for the All-Stars squad in all three years he has been at Inter Miami, but he has yet to feature.
He missed the 2024 edition through injury before skipping last year’s match, resulting in a one-game suspension from MLS.
As such, he is expected to feature for the first time against the Liga MX All-Stars on July 29 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, following the return to league action after the World Cup.
The 38-year-old has the most goal involvements in MLS so far this season (20 – 12 goals, eight assists).
The Argentina captain is currently the only player from Miami, with Nashville SC the best represented from the initial round of voting with three picks: Brian Schwake, Andy Najar and Hany Mukhtar.
The league’s brightest stars.
Meet the First XI for the MLS All-Star Game pres. by @chime pic.twitter.com/DaefafwnkC
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 5, 2026
Son is one of six first-time All-Stars, with Zavier Gozo, the exciting youngster linked with a move to Aston Villa, also among that group.
United States captain Tim Ream has been selected for the second time, with his last appearance coming back in 2011, when he played for the New York Red Bulls.
The rest of the 26-man roster will be selected by head coach Dean Smith, with two picks also coming from MLS Commissioner Don Garber.
This will be the 30th iteration of the All-Star match, with the MLS side winning last year’s contest 3-1 in Austin.
