The final roster for the MLS All-Stars has been announced ahead of their match vs Real Madrid. The Fan XI was finalized in early July which included Sebastian Giovinco as the EA Sports “More Than A Vote” winner. The roster was finalized with 11 picks from head coach Veljko Paunović and two from commissioner Don Garber.
Garber selected Sporting KC and new USMNT striker Dom Dwyer as well as FC Dallas midfielder Kellyn Acosta for his two picks. Notable selections in Paunovic’s selections are Diego Valeri, Gio Dos Santos, and Jozy Altidore.
The full roster is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Stefan Frei (Seattle Sounders), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids)
Defenders: DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo), Greg Garza (Atlanta United), Hernan Grana (FC Dallas), Matt Hedges (FC Dallas), Johan Kappelhof (Chicago Fire), Michael Parkhurst (Atlanta United), Jelle Van Damme (LA Galaxy), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
Midfielders: Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Miguel Almiron (Atlanta United), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Giovani dos Santos (LA Galaxy), Kaka (Orlando City), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire), Ignacio Piatti (Montreal Impact), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Chicago Fire), Diego Valeri (Portland Timbers)
Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Dom Dwyer (Sporting Kansas City), Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto FC), Nemanja Nikolic (Chicago Fire), David Villa (New York City FC)
Undoubtedly, as is with most years, there were some snubs in the roster. Here’s our top five.
5: Ike Opara
The defender would’ve been higher on the list, but he’s currently recovering from a concussion. He did, however, get snubbed from the All Star Fan XI that was released on July 1st. The bike was brilliant, but Opara has also been the most consistent defender on the best defensive unit this season.
#4 Justin Meram
Justin Meram cooled off the past few weeks, but early in the season he was making a case for one of the best midfielders. He had eight goals and six assists in the first 14 weeks of the season. He’s had zero of either in the past four, however.
#3 Erick "Cubo" Torres
Torres has the second most goals this season with 12. This, after he scored none in both 2015 and 2016. He has Houston third in the Western Conference and is on pace for 24 goals. That would be good for the 6th most in a single season. Dom Dwyer has just five goals this season, yet was picked over Torres. Have to attribute that to recent USMNT call-ups.
#2 David Accam
Accam leads all midfielders with 10 goals this season, good enough for 5th among all players. He also has seven assists and has been an integral part of Chicago’s worst to first campaign.
#1 Romain Alessandrini
Essentially the sole reason (with the exception of Dos Santos) the Galaxy have won any matches this year, Alessandrini has registered eight goals and seven assists this season. The Galaxy as a whole have just 26 goals and 22 assists on the season, meaning Alessandrini has accounted for nearly 33 percent of the teams production.