For Immediate Release
MLS Communications |
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Participating Players Announced for 2023 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T 5G
World Cup winner Thiago Almada and reigning MLS MVP Hany Mukhtar headline the MLS roster set to face Arsenal in the ultimate test of soccer skills
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NEW YORK (Thursday, July 6, 2023) – Major League Soccer and Arsenal FC today announced the player rosters and lineups for each of the five skills of the 2023 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T 5G.
The 10 players for each side will face off in the ultimate test of soccer skills on Tuesday, July 18 at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. at 7:30 p.m. ET. For more information about the five challenges, click here.
Highlighted by FIFA World Cup winner Thiago Almada (Atlanta United) and 2022 Landon Donovan MLS MVP winner Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC) the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge roster highlights top players from 10 different teams across the league who were selected for their skill in shooting, touch, and passing.
While three of the MLS roster participants have previous experience with the Skills Challenge, including U.S. Men’s National Team goal scorer Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas), Mexican National Team legend Héctor Herrera (Houston Dynamo) and Mukhtar, seven players are gearing up for the Skills Challenge for the first time.
Mukhtar, who clinched last year’s Skills Challenge victory for MLS with his Crossbar Challenge performance, will again be lining up with his Skills Challenge teammates for that event, hoping for another moment of magic and another MLS win.
MLS players participating in each event include:
MLS All-Star Shooting Challenge presented by AT&T 5G
- Christian Benteke (D.C. United), Dénis Bouanga (LAFC), Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas)
MLS All-Star Passing Challenge presented by Bounty
- Luciano Acosta (FC Cincinnati), Thiago Almada (Atlanta United), Riqui Puig (LA Galaxy)
MLS All-Star Touch Challenge presented by Dawn
- Luciano Acosta (FC Cincinnati), Thiago Almada (Atlanta United), Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas), Héctor Herrera (Houston Dynamo FC), Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC), Riqui Puig (LA Galaxy)
MLS All-Star Cross & Volley Challenge presented by AT&T 5G
- Goalkeepers: Roman Bürki (St. Louis CITY SC), Tyler Miller (D.C. United)
- Field Players: Christian Benteke (D.C. United), Dénis Bouanga (LAFC), Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas), Héctor Herrera (Houston Dynamo FC), Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC), Riqui Puig (LA Galaxy)
MLS All-Star Crossbar Challenge presented by GilletteLabs
- Luciano Acosta (FC Cincinnati), Christian Benteke (D.C. United), Dénis Bouanga (LAFC), Roman Bürki (St. Louis CITY SC), Héctor Herrera (Houston Dynamo FC), Tyler Miller (D.C. United), Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC)
In addition, Miller and Bürki will be in goal for the MLS All-Star team while Aaron Ramsdale and Karl Hein will be the men between the sticks for Arsenal in the MLS All-Star Cross & Volley Challenge presented by AT&T 5G.
The 10 MLS stars will face 10 top talents from a storied Arsenal side that finished second in the Premier League last season, qualifying for the UEFA Champions League. Along with Ramsdale and Hein, leading the list for Arsenal is U.S. Men’s National Team striker Folarin Balogun and 2022/23 Arsenal FC Player of the Season Martin Ødegaard.
Tickets for the 2023 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T 5G are on sale and are available for purchase here.
The MLS All-Star Game and MLS All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T 5G at Audi Field will be available to watch in more than 100 countries and regions in English, Spanish, and French on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app. Fans can subscribe to MLS Season Pass now through the Apple TV app on Apple devices, smart TVs, streaming devices, set-top boxes, game consoles, and the web at tv.apple.com.
2023 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T 5G Roster: MLS All-Stars*
| Name |
Team |
Position |
Challenges |
| Thiago Almada |
Atlanta United |
Midfielder |
Passing, Touch |
| Christian Benteke |
D.C. United |
Forward |
Shooting, Cross & Volley, Crossbar |
| Tyler Miller |
D.C. United |
Goalkeeper |
Crossbar, Cross & Volley |
| Luciano Acosta |
FC Cincinnati |
Midfielder |
Passing, Crossbar |
| Jesús Ferreira |
FC Dallas |
Forward |
Shooting, Cross & Volley |
| Héctor Herrera |
Houston Dynamo FC |
Midfielder |
Touch, Cross & Volley, Crossbar |
| Dénis Bouanga |
LAFC |
Forward |
Shooting, Cross & Volley, Crossbar |
| Riqui Puig |
LA Galaxy |
Midfielder |
Passing, Touch, Cross & Volley |
| Hany Mukhtar |
Nashville SC |
Midfielder |
Touch, Cross & Volley, Crossbar |
| Roman Bürki |
St. Louis CITY SC |
Goalkeeper |
Crossbar, Cross & Volley |
2023 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T 5G Roster: Arsenal FC*
| Name |
Team |
Position |
Challenges |
| Folarin Balogun |
Arsenal FC |
Forward |
Shooting, Cross & Volley, Crossbar |
| Kai Havertz |
Arsenal FC |
Midfielder |
Touch, Cross & Volley, Crossbar |
| Karl Hein |
Arsenal FC |
Goalkeeper |
Cross & Volley, Crossbar |
| Rob Holding |
Arsenal FC |
Defender |
Touch, Crossbar |
| Jorginho |
Arsenal FC |
Midfielder |
Touch, Cross & Volley, Passing |
| Marquinhos |
Arsenal FC |
Forward |
Touch, Cross & Volley, Crossbar |
| Eddie Nketiah |
Arsenal FC |
Forward |
Shooting, Cross & Volley, Crossbar |
| Martin Ødegaard |
Arsenal FC |
Midfielder |
Touch, Passing, Cross & Volley |
| Aaron Ramsdale |
Arsenal FC |
Goalkeeper |
Cross & Volley, Crossbar |
| Fábio Vieira |
Arsenal FC |
Midfielder |
Shooting, Touch, Passing |
* Players subject to change
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