LOS ANGELES (Friday, June 29, 2018) – Major League Soccer announced today that LA Galaxy midfielder Jonathan dos Santos has been named to the roster that will compete in the 2018 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target. Atlanta United head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino made 14 selections, while two players were honored as Commissioner’s picks by MLS Commissioner Don Garber, for the highly anticipated event against Italian powerhouse Juventus Football Club on Wednesday, Aug. 1, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta (4:30 p.m. PT, live on ESPN, UniMás, TSN and TVA Sports).
This marks Dos Santos’ first selection to an MLS All-Star Game. A member of the Mexico National Team, Dos Santos is currently representing his country in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, having also represented Mexico during the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. Dos Santos signed with the LA Galaxy in 2017 as a Designated Player after playing for Barcelona and Villarreal. In total, he has made 20 appearances while scoring two goals and adding two assists from his position in midfield.
The MLS All-Stars will feature 10 players with FIFA World Cup experience, including five participants in this year’s tournament, among 16 of the league’s teams. The roster features players from 16 countries – the most in MLS All-Star Game history, eclipsing the previous record of 13 in the 2016 and 2017 MLS All-Star Games.
Martino’s selections include a combination of young talent that recently featured at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, veteran leadership such as 2010 FIFA World Cup winner David Villa (New York City FC), and an intriguing MLS All-Star Game connection in former Juventus star Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto FC), who led TFC to the 2017 MLS Cup crown and earned MVP in the Concacaf Champions League during the Reds’ runner-up performance. Martino’s midfield corps is headlined by Mexico’s Jonathan dos Santos (LA Galaxy) – one of three MLS players on Mexican side that advanced out of the group stage at this year’s World Cup – and Peruvian Yoshimar Yotún (Orlando City SC) who helped set up his country’s first World Cup goal in 40 years earlier this month in Russia. The defensive group features 23-year-old goalkeeper Zack Steffen (Columbus Crew SC), who notably shut down Martino’s Atlanta side during the 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs with two penalty kick shootout stops en route to the Eastern Conference Championship.
The All-Star Game honorees chosen by Commissioner Garber include 17-year-old Canada National Team phenom Alphonso Davies (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), who was the 2017 Concacaf Gold Cup Golden Boot winner, and two-time MLS Golden Boot winner Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls).
Martino selected additional players to the roster to replace Atlanta United midfielder Darlington Nagbe, who was voted to the 2018 MLS All-Star Fan XI presented by Target, but will be unavailable for the match due to injury.
The MLS All-Star Fan XI, nominated by media and selected by fans, features Mexican star forward Carlos Vela (Los Angeles Football Club – EA SPORTS™ “More Than a Vote” Challenge), who propelled Mexico into the Knockout Round of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The Fan XI also includes Atlanta United’s young attacking trio of Miguel Almirón, Ezequiel Barco and current MLS Golden Boot frontrunner Josef Martínez, and Sweden great Zlatan Ibrahimović (LA Galaxy).
The 2018 MLS All-Stars will face Italian giants Juventus, who won their seventh consecutive Serie A title earlier this year. Juventus is the most decorated club in Italy, winning more Serie A and Coppa Italia titles than any other Italian club. Juventus also reached the UEFA Champions League final in two of the past four years (2015, 2017). The team is managed by Massimiliano Allegri, who just completed his fourth season with the club.
Tickets to the 2018 MLS All-Star Game against Juventus are now on sale by visiting Ticketmaster.com. Tickets start as low as $35.
2018 MLS All-Star Game Roster by Position
Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan^ (Atlanta United), Zack Steffen* (Columbus Crew SC)
Defenders: Francisco Calvo* (Minnesota United), Laurent Ciman^ (Los Angeles Football Club), Alphonso Davies# (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Matt Hedges* (FC Dallas), Aaron Long* (New York Red Bulls), Michael Murillo* (New York Red Bulls), Michael Parkhurst^ (Atlanta United), Graham Zusi^ (Sporting Kansas City)
Midfielders: Miguel Almirón^ (Atlanta United), Ezequiel Barco^ (Atlanta United), Jonathan dos Santos* (LA Galaxy), Alberth Elis* (Houston Dynamo), Ignacio Piatti* (Montreal Impact), Alexander Ring* (New York City FC), Ilie Sanchez* (Sporting Kansas City), Diego Valeri^ (Portland Timbers), Yoshimar Yotún* (Orlando City SC), Wilfried Zahibo* (New England Revolution)
Forwards: Sebastian Giovinco* (Toronto FC), Zlatan Ibrahimović^ (LA Galaxy), Josef Martínez^ (Atlanta United), Carlos Vela^ (Los Angeles Football Club), David Villa* (New York City FC), Bradley Wright-Phillips# (New York Red Bulls)
^Fan XI selection
*Gerardo “Tata” Martino selection
#Commissioner Don Garber selection
2018 MLS All-Star Game Roster by Team
Atlanta United (5): Miguel Almirón, Ezequiel Barco, Brad Guzan, Josef Martínez, Michael Parkhurst
Columbus Crew SC (1): Zack Steffen
FC Dallas (1): Matt Hedges
Houston Dynamo (1): Alberth Elis
LA Galaxy (2): Jonathan dos Santos, Zlatan Ibrahimović
Los Angeles Football Club (2): Laurent Ciman, Carlos Vela
Minnesota United FC (1): Francisco Calvo
Montreal Impact (1): Ignacio Piatti
New England Revolution (1): Wilfried Zahibo
New York City FC (2): Alexander Ring, David Villa
New York Red Bulls (3): Aaron Long, Michael Murillo, Bradley Wright-Phillips
Orlando City SC (1): Yoshimar Yotún
Portland Timbers (1): Diego Valeri
Sporting Kansas City (2): Ilie Sanchez, Graham Zusi
Toronto FC (1): Sebastian Giovinco
Vancouver Whitecaps FC (1): Alphonso Davies
