Lionel Messi, Son Heung-Min Headline MLS First XI for All-Star Game vs. Liga MX Standouts

Inter Miami's Lionel Messi and LAFC's Son Heung-Min were among the 11 players named Friday to the 2026 MLS All-Star Game roster.

Players were selected through a combined vote by fans, players and media members.

Five All-Stars will be represented at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including Messi and Son alongside the Vancouver Whitecaps' Sebastian Berhalter, Chicago Fire's Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Charlotte FC's Tim Ream.

The full list of selections is as follows:

• Goalkeeper: Brian Schwake (Nashville SC)
• Left Back: Anthony Markanich (Minnesota United FC)
• Center Backs: Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Chicago Fire FC) and Tim Ream (Charlotte FC)
• Right Back: Andy Najar (Nashville SC)
• Defensive Midfielder: Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
• Attacking Midfielders: Zavier Gozo (Real Salt Lake) and Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC)
• Forwards: Hugo Cuypers (Chicago Fire FC), Son Heung-Min (LAFC), and Leo Messi (Inter Miami CF)

There will be 15 more players named to the All-Star roster, including 13 players chosen by Charlotte head coach Dean Smith and two players selected by MLS commissioner Don Garber.

Mbokazi received the most fan votes of any All-Star, according to MLS. The youngest player in the starting XI is 19-year-old Real Salt Lake midfielder Zavier Gozo.

The squad thus far features six first-time All-Stars as well as five players with previous All-Star experience including Messi, Berhalter, Ream, Chicago's Hany Mukhtar and Nashville's Andy Najar.

He is the first South African player to make the MLS All-Star team since Doctor Khumalo in 1996. Son is the first South Korean player to qualify since Hong Myung-Bo in 2003, according to the league.

The MLS All-Stars are set to play All-Stars from Mexico's LIGA MX when the All-Star Game takes place Wednesday, July 29 at Charlotte's Bank of America Stadium.

The LIGA MX All-Stars have yet to be announced. Last year, Club Tijuana's Gilberto Mora became the youngest player in MLS All-Star Game history to score during a 3-1 loss to the MLS All-Stars' 3-1 in Austin.