Soccer-Inter Miami's Messi headlines MLS All-Star Game roster
FILE PHOTO: Aug 6, 2023; Frisco, TX, USA; Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) reacts after scoring in the second half against FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
(Reuters) - Inter Miami's Lionel Messi headlined the list of 30 players named on Monday for this month's MLS All-Star Game in Columbus, Ohio, against top talent from Mexico's LIGA MX.
For Messi, who is in his first full season with Inter Miami after joining the club in July 2023, this marks his debut on a Major League Soccer All-Star roster.
The 37-year-old, currently playing with Argentina at the Copa America, is joined on the roster by fellow Miami players Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
Overall, 18 Major League Soccer clubs are represented on the roster, led by Columbus Crew (five) and Inter Miami (four).
The roster was assembled through a mixture of 12 fan, player and media votes, 16 selections from MLS All-Star head coach Wilfried Nancy of host team, Columbus, and two picks from MLS Commissioner Don Garber.
Messi, who had a magical start in MLS last season, has enjoyed continued success this term with 12 goals and 13 assists in his first 12 games of 2024, making him the quickest to 25 goal contributions in a season.
Messi and his Miami team mates were all voted in while Garber used his picks on Hector Herrera (Houston Dynamo) and Darlington Nabe (Columbus).
The All-Star Game will be played at 8 p.m. ET (0000 GMT) on July 24.
(This story has been refiled to clarify that the MLS All-Star Game in Columbus will be held this month, not the next month, in paragraph 1)
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Ken Ferris)