Ahead of this week's midsummer matchup, GOAL looks at the all-time best players from past MLS All-Star Games
The 29th edition of the MLS All-Star Game arrives Wednesday night. Top MLS players will host the Liga MX All-Stars at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas.
Dating back to 1996, the ASG has showcased the best players in the league – and some of the world's best – in multiple formats, ranging from intra-league matches to games against European powerhouses such as Chelsea, Manchester United and Bayern Munich. Who have been the best from MLS to play in the summer series?
From superstars such as David Beckham and Thierry Henry to stalwarts such as Darlington Nagbe and Chad Marshall, GOAL looks at the MLS All-Star All-Time XI.
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Matt Turner: Although Turner only played in one ASG, it was more than memorable for the now-established U.S. international. In the 2021 game, Turner came on in the 60th minute and kept a clean sheet in regulation, sending the match to a penalty shootout.
Turner came up huge, saving attempts from both Rogelio Funes Mori and Salvador Reyes, while watching Erik Lira's penalty launch over the bar as the MLS All-Stars won 3-2 in the shootout. He was named MVP and made MLS history.
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Walker Zimmerman: Zimmerman, one of two active players on this list, has been one of the most consistent defenders MLS has ever seen. The 32-year-old is a four-time All-Star, having been elected in 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023. In each of those seasons, as well as 2020, he was named to the MLS Best XI, and was named MLS Defender of the Year in '20 and '21, as well.
Eddie Pope: Pope is one of the great defenders of the game, even if modern-day fans might not know much about him. For anyone familiar with his game, they'll know that he is widely considered one of the best defenders in MLS history. He was a five-time MLS All-Star, from 1997-2000 and in 2002. He's since been inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Chad Marshall: A genuine defensive monster, Marshall was a four-time All-Star – in 2009, 2010, 2014, and 2015 – and played crucial roles in victories over Bayern Munich and Tottenham Hotspur in back-to-back ASG appearances. He went on to be named MLS Defender of the Year in '09 and '14 as well, capping off two remarkable campaigns.
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Darlington Nagbe: You see Nagbe's name, and you don't need stats, numbers, or justifications for his inclusion. Just nod, agree, and read on. Surprisingly, Nagbe was only a three-time All-Star. He was a fan vote selection in 2016 and a commissioner's pick in both 2022 and 2024.
Carlos Valderamma: A five-time ASG selection from the first installment in 1996 through 2000, Valderamma was the epitome of brilliance in MLS's early years. In both the '96 and '97 All-Star Games, he was named MVP, guiding the East All-Stars to victories. Valderamma still holds the single-season record for the most assists with 26.
Ricardo Kaka: Named MVP of the 2015 ASG after securing a goal and an assist in a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, Kaka etched his name into MLS history, an historic performance from the former Ballon d'Or winner. He was a three-time MLS All-Star selection, named to the team in 2015, 2016, and 2017.
Dwayne De Rosario: A seven-time selection, De Rosario is a player of legend in MLS. From 2006-2012, he was named to seven consecutive All-Star rosters, and in his 2006 debut, he was named MVP after he scored the game-winner in a narrow 1-0 victory over Chelsea FC.
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Thierry Henry: Henry was named to the ASG four times, from 2011-2014, representing the New York Red Bulls. The former Barcelona and Arsenal ace never scored in the ASG, but helped them to major victories over Chelsea in 2012 and Bayern Munich in 2014. At a time when MLS needed a world-renowned star to be the face of the All-Stars against world heavyweights, Henry more than delivered.
Landon Donovan: Donovan was selected to the MLS All-Star team not once, not twice but… 13 times. Yeah, you read that right. From 2001-2014, he was selected every year, but missed out in 2006 due to a hamstring injury. In 2001, he scored four goals for the West in a thrilling 6-6 draw against the East, earning MVP honors. Then, in 2014, he was once again named MVP as he scored the winner in a 2-1 victory over Bayern Munich. In terms of star power at an ASG, Donovan was man.
David Beckham: Beckham, MLS's first bona fide international superstar, was named to the ASG in 2008, 2011, and 2012 as a representative of the LA Galaxy. In 2008, he recorded an assist as MLS defeated West Ham United 3-2, and in 2012, he recorded another crucial assist as MLS defeated Chelsea 3-2. Although he was only selected three times, he directly contributed to two major victories over European opposition.