Golden Boot winner Guillermo Martinez of Pumas and four-time champion Guido Pizarro of Tigres were among 30 players named Monday to the Liga MX squad for the MLS All-Star Game.
The Mexican League’s elite standouts will face the MLS select squad on July 24 at Columbus, Ohio, in the third such showdown, with MLS teams having won 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in 2021 and 2-1 in 2022.
Pizzaro was named the Mexican league’s top center back while Martinez was its top striker.
The Mexican side, to be coached by Club America’s Andre Jardine, also features back-to-back league champion and Mexican national team goalkeeper Luis Malagon of Club America, former national team star Andres Guardado of Leon, former Los Angeles Galaxy standout Jonathan Dos Santos of Club America and CONCACAF Champions Cup winner Salomon Rondon of Pachuca.
Argentine icon Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez of Uruguay, Jordi Alba of Spain and Sergio Busquets of Spain were voted onto the MLS squad.
Two days after the All-Star contest will mark the kickoff of the Leagues Cup between US, Canadian and Mexican clubs.
Messi led Inter Miami to last year’s crown in the inaugural Leagues Cup competition. Miami will begin defending the crown on July 27 at home against Mexican side Puebla.
js/iwd
