The MLS campaign takes a short break this week as the best players in the division take on the best players from Mexico's top flight for the MLS All-Star Game 2024.
30 players from the MLS have been selected by fans, coaches and commissioners to take on 30 players from the Liga MX to compete at the Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio in a huge spectacle for everyone to enjoy.
But who will come out victorious? We'll take a look at the game and provide you with our best free soccer betting picks to earn you some extra cash while you take in the action from the pitch.
Learn more about how to bet on the MLS here.
MLS All-Star Game information
- Wednesday, July 24th 2024
- Lower.com Field, Columbus, Ohio
- 20:00 ET kick-off
- Watch on Apple TV
MLS All-Stars Roster
Goalkeepers
- Roman Burki - St Louis City
- Hugo Lloris - LA FC
- Maarten Paes - FC Dallas
Defenders:
- Jordi Alba - Inter Miami CF
- Rudy Camacho - Columbus Crew
- Justen Glad - Real Salt Lake
- Aaron Herrera - D.C. United
- Thiago Martins - New York City FC
- Steven Moreira - Columbus Crew
- Luca Orellano - FC Cincinnati
- Miles Robinson - FC Cincinnati
Midfielders
- Luciano Acosta - FC Cincinnati
- Sergio Busquets - Inter Miami CF
- Mathieu Choiniere - CF Montreal
- Evander - Portland Timbers
- Ryan Gauld - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Hector Herrera - Houston Dynamo
- Robin Lod - Minnesota United
- Hany Mukhtar - Nashville SC
- Darlington Nagbe - Columbus Crew
- Riqui Puig - LA Galaxy
Strikers
- Christian Benteke - D.C. United
- Federico Bernadeschi - Toronto FC
- Denis Bouanga - Los Angeles FC
- Cucho Hernandez - Columbus Crew
- Lionel Messi - Inter Miami CF
- Luis Suarez - Inter Miami CF
- Diego Rossi - Columbus Crew
Liga MX All-Stars Roster
Goalkeepers
- Luis Malagon - Club America
- Kevin Mier - Cruz Azul
- Fernando Tapia - Tigres UANL
Defenders
- Jesus Alberto Angulo - Tigres UANL
- Brian Garcia - Deportivo Toluca
- Bryan Gonzalez - CF Pachuca
- Alan Mozo - Guadalajara
- Jesus Orozco - Guadalajara
- Alexis Pena - Club Necaxa
- Gonzalo Piovi - Cruz Azul
- Guido Pizzaro - Tigres UANL
- Juan Manuel Sanabria - Atletico San Luis
Midfielders
- Roberto Alvarado - Guadalajara
- Alan Bautista - Pachuca
- German Berterame - Monterrey
- Juan Brunetta - Tigres UANL
- Sergio Canales - Monterrey
- Nelson Deossa - Pachuca
- Javairo Dilrosun - Club America
- Jonathan Dos Santos - Club America
- Rodrigo Dourado - Atletico San Luis
- Alvaro Fidalgo - Club America
- Andres Guardado - Club Leon
- Cesar Huerta - Pumas
- Oussama Idrissi - Pachuca
- Maximilliano Meza - Monterrey
- Carlos Rodriguez - Cruz Azul
Strikers
- Andre-Pierre Gignac - Tigres UANL
- Guillermo Martinez - Pumas
- Salomon Rondon - Pachuca
MLS All-Star Game Preview
There's still a short way to go before the MLS All-Star game takes place, but there has already been a host of drama coming from the roster selections with some key players set to miss out.
MLS top scorer Cristian Arango was initially named in the list of 30 and was expected to lead the line for the team, however the Real Salt Lake forward has recently seen his All-Star status stripped. Arango was hit with a four-game ban for violating the league's Anti-Harassment policy, and while no details were released about the incident, he now won't be present for the All-Star game.
He was set to partner Lionel Messi in attack, but the Argentine legend is now set to miss the game too. While representing his nation at the Copa America, the ex-Barcelona star was forced off injured during the second half with an ankle injury and images surfaced showing it hugely swollen on the sidelines.
It now seems highly likely that the Inter Miami captain will miss the game rather than be risked ahead of the rest of the season, which should open up a chance for some others to step in.
Luis Suarez is favorite to take the starting spot for the team after 13 goals in 17 appearances so far this season.
Check out our review for BetOnline sports betting here.
Soccer picks: MLS All-Stars to win
Don't be surprised to see a tighter game than many people are expecting, because the Liga MX All-Stars will not be pushovers.
International superstars such as Sergio Canales, Andre-Pierre Gignac and Jonathan Dos Santos have all plied their trade in Europe's top divisions during their career and they're all in good form.
Salomon Rondon recently found himself in the headlines for a stunning goal and comes into this in great form, but the MLS squad has got an abundance of quality even with some of their big hitters missing.
They have World Cup winners throughout the spine of their team, while also having some top younger talent available too, and in games where the result isn't that important and it's all about putting on a spectacle for fans, the team with the better players should be shining.
With five Colombus Crew players and four from Inter Miami (including Messi), there is also likely to be a good element of players knowing each other well and being able to link-up with each other like it's business as usual.
Back the MLS All-Stars to come out on top in a high-scoring and entertaining game, with Suarez netting at least once.
Check out our review for Bovada sports betting here.
