MLS has released an update on the state of play in the voting for the MLS All-Star roster, which is to be coached by Columbus Crew boss Wilfried Nancy.
Several Inter Miami men are among the players who lead the MLS All-Star vote, with under a week to go until the ballot closes. Having helped Miami to the top of the Eastern Conference standings, Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba are all frontrunners in the race to be voted into the roster for the 2024 All-Star Game, which will see the MLS All-Stars take on an ideal XI from Mexico’s Liga MX.
How does the MLS All-Star vote work?
The vote, which opened on Wednesday 29 May, gives fans, media and MLS players the chance to make their picks for the All-Star roster, which is to be coached by Columbus Crew boss Wilfried Nancy. Weighted evenly been the three voting groups, the All-Star vote will account for 12 members of the 26-man squad.
A further 12 players will be selected by Nancy, with MLS commissioner Don Garber choosing the roster’s final two members. Fans, media and players nominate 11 men in a 4-2-3-1 formation: a goalkeeper, a right-back, two center-backs, a left-back, a defensive midfielder, two attacking midfielders and three forwards/wingers.
MLS issues update on progress of All-Star vote
On Wednesday, MLS offered an update on the voting results as things stand, releasing a list of the five most-voted players in each position. Messi is the top-voted forward/winger, and Busquets and Alba are also the most popular picks at defensive midfield and left-back, respectively. Suárez is third in the list of forwards/wingers.
Miami’s total of four players across the seven top fives is second only to fellow Eastern Conference pace-setters FC Cincinnati, who have six (Roman Celentano, Miles Robinson, Matt Miazga, Luca Orellano, DeAndre Yedlin, Luciano Acosta). Columbus, the 2023 MLS Cup winners, are alongside Miami with four players (Rudy Camacho, Mohamed Farsi, Aidan Morris, Darlington Nagbe).
This season’s MLS leading scorer, Cristian Arango, whose 16 goals have fired Real Salt Lake to first place in the Western Conference standings, is one of three RSL stars among the league’s most-voted players. The Coloradans are also represented by Emeka Eneli and Justen Glad.
The most-voted players in each position as things stand:
MLS All-Star vote: how to take part, deadline
You can make your selections for the 2024 All-Star roster on the MLS website. The All-Star vote closes at 11:59pm PT on Monday 10 June (2:59pm ET on Tuesday 11 June).
When is the 2024 MLS All-Star Game? Date, time, how to watch
The 2024 MLS All-Star Game takes place on Wednesday 24 July 2024, and will be held at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio. Kick-off is scheduled for 8pm ET/5pm PT. Viewers in the United States and over 100 other countries worldwide will be able to watch the clash on MLS Season Pass, a subscription service on the streaming platform Apple TV.
