All-Star - Soccer Wiretap

MLS announced its full 29-man All-Star Game roster Wednesday, featuring Lionel Messi alongside United States internationals Matt Freese, Max Arfsten, Tim Ream and Sebastian Berhalter.

The match against Liga MX's All-Stars is scheduled for July 29 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The roster includes 13 players who competed at this summer's World Cup. Messi was among 11 players previously announced as All-Star selections back in June.

Players from 15 different countries make up this year's roster. The United States leads all nations with 10 total representatives.

Ream will return to the All-Star Game for the first time since his initial selection in 2011, marking a 15-year gap between appearances.

Nashville SC leads all MLS clubs with four selections, including Hany Mukhtar, Andy Najar, Brian Schwake and Sam Surridge.

This year's matchup marks the fifth meeting between MLS and Liga MX All-Stars. MLS has won three of the previous four contests.

2026 MLS All-Star Game Roster

Goalkeepers (3): Maxime Crepeau (Orlando City SC), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Brian Schwake (Nashville SC)

Defenders (10): Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Lucas Herrington (Colorado Rapids), Richie Laryea (Toronto FC), Anthony Markanich (Minnesota United FC), Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Chicago Fire FC), Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew), Daniel Munie (San Jose Earthquakes), Andy Najar (Nashville SC), Jackson Ragen (Seattle Sounders FC), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC)

Midfielders (9): Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Pep Biel (Charlotte FC), Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami CF), Evander (FC Cincinnati), Carles Gil (New England Revolution), Zavier Gozo (Real Salt Lake), Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC), Thomas Muller (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Ashley Westwood (Charlotte FC)

Forwards (7): Hugo Cuypers (Chicago Fire FC), Anders Dreyer (San Diego FC), Julian Hall (Red Bull New York), Son Heung-Min (LAFC), Leo Messi (Inter Miami CF), Petar Musa (FC Dallas), Sam Surridge (Nashville SC)

MLS All-Stars defeated Liga MX 3-1 at Austin FC's Q2 Stadium on Wednesday night, claiming their 12th midseason showcase victory despite Lionel Messi's controversial absence from the match.

Sam Surridge, Tai Baribo, and Brian White scored for MLS in front of a sellout crowd exceeding 20,000 fans. The victory marked the third MLS triumph in four meetings against Liga MX stars.

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami teammate Jordi Alba were voted into the All-Star Game but failed to participate. MLS Commissioner Don Garber declined to confirm whether the players would face league suspensions for skipping the showcase.

The league previously suspended healthy players who missed All-Star appearances, notably Zlatan Ibrahimović in 2018. Both Messi and Alba could face punishment for Inter Miami's next match against Cincinnati on Saturday.

Surridge opened scoring in the 28th minute with a header following Denis Bouanga's corner kick. The Nashville SC striker, tied with Messi for the MLS Golden Boot lead at 18 goals, beat Liga MX goalkeeper Luis Malagon.

Baribo doubled the lead in the 51st minute after receiving a pass from Diego Rossi. The Philadelphia Union forward's right-footed shot found the lower left corner from the center of the box.

MLS pressed high and were opportunistic in counterattacks under Austin FC manager Nico Estevez. 

Gilberto Mora pulled one back for Liga MX in the 64th minute, converting Elías Montiel's pass from the box. The 16-year-old Club Tijuana sensation provided hope for the substantial Mexican contingent in attendance.

White sealed the victory in the 80th minute with a clinical finish. Vancouver Whitecaps' striker capped a smooth sequence to restore MLS's two-goal advantage and secure the comprehensive victory.

The 2026 All-Star Game will take place in Charlotte at a July date to be determined, likely following the conclusion of the World Cup in North America on July 19.

Vinicius Junior has been named the 23-24 UEFA Champions League Player of the Season as he headlines their Team of the Season. Jude Bellingham was name the Young Player of the Season.

Team of The Season
• Vinicius Junior, Real Madrid
• Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid
• Harry Kane, Bayern Munich
• Phil Foden, Manchester City
• Vitinha, Paris Saint-Germain
• Marcel Sabitzer, Borussia Dortmund
• Dani Carvajal, Real Madrid
• Antonio Rudiger, Real Madrid
• Mats Hummels, Borussia Dortmund
• Ian Maatsen, Borussia Dortmund
• Gregor Kobel, Borussia Dortmund

Austin FC has been awarded the 2025 MLS All-Star Game.

The MLS All-Stars will play Atletico Madrid this summer in a match in Orlando.

The MLS All-Stars lost to Juventus last season and Real Madrid the previous year.

A date for the All-Star Game hasn't been set but is expected to be in late July or early August.

Cristiano Ronaldo has reclaimed his spot from Lionel Messi as the top footballer in the world, according to The Guardian's Top-100 list. Luis Suarez ranks third while Antoine Griezmann has climbed from 28th to fourth with Neymar rounding out the top-5.

Riyad Mahrez jumped from 97th to 10th while teammate Jamie Vardy is ranked 19th this season after coming in at 68 in 2015.

Bayern Munich had players in the top-100, while Real Madrid had 12, Barcelona had eight and Manchester City had seven.

(The Guardian Top-100 for 2014 and 2015)

Full List
1. Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid
2. Lionel Messi, Barcelona
3. Luis Suarez, Barcelona
4. Antoine Griezmann, Atletico Madrid
5. Neymar, Barcelona
6. Gareth Bale, Real Madrid
7. Robert Lewandowski, Bayern Munich
8. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Borussia Dortmund
9. Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal
10. Riyad Mahrez, Leicester City
11. Sergio Aguero, Manchester City
12. Luka Modric, Real Madrid
13. Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City
14. Gonzalo Higuain, Juventus
15. Andres Iniesta, Barcelona
16. N'Golo Kante, Chelsea
17. Paul Pogba, Manchester United
18. Manuel Neuer, Bayern Munich
19. Jamie Vardy, Leicester City
20. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Manchester United
21. Toni Kroos, Real Madrid
22. Gianluigi Buffon, Juventus
23. Mesut Ozil, Arsenal
24. Diego Godin, Atletico Madrid
25. Sergio Ramos, Real Madrid
26. Leonardo Bonucci, Juventus
27. Dimitri Payet, West Ham
28. Philippe Coutinho, Liverpool
29. David de Gea, Manchester United
30. Pepe, Real Madrid
31. Thomas Muller, Bayern Munich
32. Arturo Vidal, Bayern Munich
33. Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur
34. Ivan Rakitic, Barcelona
35. Eden Hazard, Chelsea
36. Jerome Boateng, Bayern Munich
37. Paulo Dybala, Juventus
38. Gerard Pique, Barcelona
39. Sergio Busquets, Barcelona
40. Hugo Lloris, Tottenham Hotspur
41. Koke, Atletico Madrid
42. Jan Oblak, Atletico Madrid
43. Angel di Maria, Paris Saint-Germain
44. David Silva, Manchester City
45. Marco Verratti, Paris Saint-Germain
46. Diego Costa, Chelsea
47. Edinson Cavani, Paris Saint-Germain
48. Marcelo, Real Madrid
49. Mauro Icardi, Inter Milan
50. Karim Benzema, Real Madrid
51. Mats Hummels, Bayern Munich
52. Thiago Silva, Paris Saint-Germain
53. Casemiro, Real Madrid
54. Renato Sanches, Bayern Munich
55. Keylor Navas, Real Madrid
56. Philipp Lahm, Bayern Munich
57. Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Manchester United
58. Toby Alderweireld, Tottenham Hotspur
59. Kevin Gameiro, Atletico Madrid
60. Joshua Kimmich, Bayern Munich
61. David Alaba, Bayern Munich
62. Javier Mascherano, Barcelona
63. Douglas Costa, Bayern Munich
64. Gabriel Jesus, Palmeiras
65. Mohamed Salah, Roma
66. Giorgio Chiellini, Juventus
67. Aritz Aduriz, Athletic Bilbao
68. Laurent Koscielny, Arsenal
69. Sadio Mane, Liverpool
70. Miralem Pjanic, Juventus
71. Alvaro Morata, Real Madrid
72. Kasper Schmeichel, Leicester City
73. Aaron Ramsey, Arsenal
74. Raphael Guerreiro, Borussia Dortmund
75. Rui Patricio, Sporting Lisbon
76. Roberto Firmino, Liverpool
77. Yannick Carrasco, Atletico Madrid
78. Dani Alves, Juventus
79. Nani, Valencia
80. Gianluigi Donnarumma, AC Milan
81. Claudio Bravo, Manchester City
82. Marek Hamsik, Napoli
83. Miguel Borja, Atletico Nacional
84. Blaise Matuidi, Paris Saint-Germain
85. Ilkay Gundogan, Manchester City
86. Juan Mata, Manchester United
87. James Rodriguez, Real Madrid
88. Raheem Sterling, Manchester City
89. Arjen Robben, Bayern Munich
90. Dele Alli, Tottenham Hotspur
91. Adrien Silva, Sporting Lisbon
92. Thibaut Courtois, Chelsea
93. Fernandinho, Manchester City
94. Alexandre Lacazette, Lyon
95. Ever Banega, Inter Milan
96. Francesco Totti, Roma
97. Santi Cazorla, Arsenal
98. Thiago Alcantara, Bayern Munich
99. Julian Weigl, Borussia Dortmund
100. Ousmane Dembele, Borussia Dortmund

Eden Hazard has been named PFA Player of the Year, while Harry Kane received Young Player of the Year honors.

Hazard won the Young Player of the Year award last season and took his game to another level this year.

“I’m very happy,” said Hazard. “One day I want to be the best and what I did this season is play very well, Chelsea played very well. I don’t know if I deserve to win but it is good for me.

“It is good, it is better to be voted by the players – they know everything about football. This is good. I’m very happy.”

Six Chelsea players were named to the PFA's Premier League team of the year.

Eden Hazard, Diego Costa, John Terry, Nemanja Matic, Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic took six of the 11 slots.

Philippe Coutinho, Alexis Sanchez, Harry Kane and Ryan Bertrand were the other four outfielders, while David de Gea was named in goal.

FIFA announced their 2014 FIFPRO World XI on Monday:

GOALKEEPER: Manuel Neuer

DEFENDERS: Philipp Lahm, Sergio Ramos, David Luiz, Thiago Silva

MIDFIELDERS: Angel Di Maria, Toni Kroos, Andres Iniesta

FORWARDS: Cristiano Ronaldo, Arjen Robben, Lionel Messi

Cristiano Ronaldo headlines the 13-14 Champions League squad of the year, chosen by UEFA's technical study group. Ronaldo was one of seven players from Real Madrid selected.

Goalkeepers
Thibaut Courtois (Club Atlético de Madrid)
Manuel Neuer (FC Bayern München)

Defenders
Diego Godín (Club Atlético de Madrid)
Philipp Lahm (FC Bayern München)
Daniel Carvajal (Real Madrid CF)
Pepe (Real Madrid CF)
Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid CF)

Midfielders
Gabi (Club Atlético de Madrid)
Andrés Iniesta (FC Barcelona)
Toni Kroos (FC Bayern München)
Ángel Di María (Real Madrid CF)
Luka Modrić (Real Madrid CF)
Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid CF)

Forwards
Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund)
Diego Costa (Club Atlético de Madrid)
Arjen Robben (FC Bayern München)
Zlatan Ibrahimović (Paris Saint Germain FC)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid CF)