Narrowing down the dozens of talented players to fill an All-Star ballot is no easy task. For that reason, several MLS Multiplex writers have come together to create a collective All-Star ballot. First, each writer will reveal their own ballot. Some of them offer a brief explanation for a few tough decisions. Then each ballot will be tallied to reveal the overall lineup along with the wildcard 12th selection.
Upon each player’s first appearance on this article, their club abbreviation will be provided next to their name in parenthesis. Each squad will be listed in this order: goalkeeper, right back, center backs, left back, defensive midfielder, attacking midfielders, and forwards (wingers and strikers are collectively represented in this category).
GK: Brad Stuver (ATX)
RB: Alex Roldan (SEA)
CBs: Yeimar Gómez Andrade (SEA) and Jack Elliott (PHI)
LB: Kai Wagner (PHI)
DM: Eryk Williamson (POR)
AMs: Carles Gil (NE) and Lucas Zelarayán (CLB)
FWs: Javier “Chicharito” Hernández (LA), Dániel Sallói (SKC), and Alan Pulido (SLC)
Stuver has the most saves in the league as of 7/16, and only two other players who played 5 or more games have a higher save percentage. Austin might be in 10th place, but they could be in last without him. Williamson is extremely underrated, and I am glad he is finally with the USMNT.
GK: Matt Turner (NE)
RB: Alex Roldan
CBs: Yeimar Gómez Andrade and Sean Nealis (RBNY)
LB: DeJuan Jones (NE)
DM: Cristian Cásseres Jr. (RBNY)
AMs: Lucas Zelarayán, Maxi Moralez (NYC)
FWs: Javier Hernández, Daniel Sallói, Raul Ruidíaz (SEA)
Partnering with both Andres Reyes and Tom Edwards, Nealis has been exceptional despite the season-long injury of Aaron Long. I also believe Cásseres is currently the best pound-for-pound midfielder in MLS.
GK: Eloy Room (CLB)
RB: Alex Roldan
CBs: Jack Elliott and Yeimar Gómez Andrade
LB: Kai Wagner
DM: Júnior Urso (ORL)
MF- Gianluca Busio (SKC) and Carles Gil
FW- Daniel Salloi; Javier Hernández; Raúl Ruidíaz
If Busio is sold prior to the All-Star Game, my replacement choice would be Orlando City’s Andrés Perea.
GK: Andre Blake (PHI)
RB: Kim Moon-hwan (LAFC)
CBS: Jonathan Mensah (CLB) and Eddie Segura (LAFC)
LB: Sam Vines (COL)
DM: Eryk Williamson
AMs: Lucas Zelarayán and Carles Gil
FWs: Javier Hernández, Diego Rossi (LAFC), and Raul Ruidíaz
GK: Matt Turner
LB: Kai Wagner
CBs: Jack Elliott and Yeimar Gómez Andrade
RB: Alex Roldan
DM: Eryk Williamson
AMs: Carles Gil and Lucas Zelarayán
FWs: Raul Ruidíaz, Javier Hernández, and Nani (ORL)
GK: Pedro Gallese (ORL)
RB: Alistair Johnston (NSH)
DF: Yeimar Gómez Andrade and Eddie Segura
LB: Nouhou Tolo (SEA)
DM: Jose Martínez (PHI)
AM: Damir Kreilach (RSL) and Carles Gil
FWs: Javier Hernández, Nani, and Carlos Vela (LAFC)
Outside of Gil, the midfield spots are the most up for grabs. While Kreilach and Martínez may not be most people’s top choices, both Real Salt Lake and Philadelphia Union’s consistency exists because of the responsibility of these midfield players.
GK: Matt Turner
RB: Alex Roldan
CBs: Yeimar Gómez Andrade and Antonio Carlos
LB: Kai Wagner
DM: Alexander Ring (ATX)
AMs: Cristian Roldan and Carles Gil
FWs: Nani, Javier Hernández, and Cade Cowell (SJ)
Cade Cowell may be a surprising pick to some, but as the San Jose Earthquakes Twitter account pointed out, he has the most combined goals and assists by an American with 4 goals and 4 assists (while also becoming the first player overall to reach that mark this season). I also considered that Cowell would need as many votes as possible to make the roster while someone like Raul Ruidíaz would get in anyway. It was hard to leave out Chris Wondolowski, but rather than give him my vote, maybe Don Garber will do what the NBA did in 2019, giving Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki honorary roster spots in their retirement season.
Connor Somerville (Co-Host of the MLS Multiplex Podcast)
GK: Jonathan Bond (LA)
RB: Alex Roldan
CBs: Yeimar Gómez Andrade and Jack Elliott
LB: Kai Wagner
DM: João Paulo (SEA)
AMs: Carles Gil and Damir Kreilach
Fwds: Raul Ruidíaz, Javier Hernández, and Nani
My honorable mentions include Lucas Zelarayán, Caden Clark (RBNY), and Brek Shea (MIA).
GK: Matt Turner
RB: Kelvin Leerdam (MIA)
CBs: Xavier Arreaga (SEA) and Rudy Camacho (MTL)
LB: Nouhou Tolo
RB: Kelvin Leerdam
DM: João Paulo
AMs: Carles Gil and Sebastian Lletget (LA)
FWs: Fabio (RBNY), Raul Ruidíaz, and Tajon Buchanan (NE)
Nouhou has been an absolute rock at the back for the Sounders. I know Inter Miami has been poor, but Leerdam has definitely been one of the standouts. Javier Hernández is someone who also deserves the nod. He has 10 goals on the season, but I have to recognize Ruidíaz’s greatness. Honorable mentions to: Álvaro Medrán (CHI), Damir Kreilach, and Mason Toye (MTL).
Johnathon Wright
GK: Andre Blake
RB: Alex Roldan
CB: Jakob Glenses (PHI) and Yeimar Gómez Andrade
LB: Daniel Lovitz (NSH)
DM: João Paulo
AM: Carles Gil and Damir Kreilach
FW: Javier Hernández, Raul Ruidíaz, Daniel Sallói
It was hard to leave Jesús Medina (NYC) but he hasn’t played as well late. Other sleepers include Eduard Autesta (LAFC) and Caden Clark (RBNY).
Now that you’ve seen our individual selections, they have been tallied up to produce the following team.
GK: Matt Turner (4 votes)
RB: Alex Roldan (7 votes)
CBs: Yeimar Gómez Andrade (8 votes) and Jack Elliott (4 votes)
LB: Kai Wagner (5 votes)
DM: Eryk Williamson (3 votes)
AMs: Carles Gil (9 votes) and Lucas Zelarayán (4 votes)
FWs: Javier Hernández (10 votes), Raul Ruidíaz (8 votes), Nani (4 votes)
Wildcard: Daniel Sallói/João Paulo (tied with Nani and Williamson respectively)
So a slight twist at the end there, but this looks like a solid fan vote lineup. Voting will close on July 21 at 11:59 PM Pacific so if you haven’t voted yet, this could give you an idea of who to vote for. The MLS All-Star Game will take place on August 25 (time TBA) in Banc of California Stadium, Los Angeles. They’ll face a Liga MX All-Star roster that has already been selected and can be viewed here.
Let us know your thoughts on either the individual selections or overall ballot in the comments section or on Twitter! Be sure to submit your own MLS All-Star Ballot too!