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MLS Adds Rodolfo Pizarro, George Bello to Squad for 2021 MLS All-Star Game Presented by Target

August 23, 2021 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


NEW YORK - Major League Soccer today announced the additions of Inter Miami CF midfielder Rodolfo Pizarro and Atlanta United defender George Bello to the roster for the 2021 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target. The updates are made as MLS and LIGA MX share the final rosters for the history-making match set for Wednesday, Aug. 25 (9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, FS1 / Univision / TSN / TVA Sports).

As the best in MLS prepare to take on the best in LIGA MX, Pizarro, as well as Los Angeles Football Club forward Diego Rossi and Philadelphia Union's heralded goalkeeper Andre Blake have also been added to the roster for the 2021 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T 5G on Tuesday, Aug. 24 (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, FS1 / TUDN / TSN / TVA Sports).

These updates are made as LA Galaxy's Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, LAFC's Carlos Vela, New England's Carles Gil and New England's Tajon Buchanan are unavailable for the week of events. While Blake will replace Orlando City SC goalkeeper Pedro Gallese for the Skills Challenge presented by AT&T 5G, Gallese will still be available to participate in the All-Star Game presented by Target.

The added MLS All-Stars Pizarro and Bello have both been in tremendous form in MLS regular season play as both Inter Miami CF and Atlanta United have begun to find their form in recent weeks. Pizarro tallied a brace in Inter Miami's 3-1 victory against Toronto FC on Saturday, a second consecutive win for the club, and Atlanta United is unbeaten in their last five matches, including two shutouts.

On the opposing side, additions to LIGA MX's roster include Santiago "Chaquito" Giménez (Cruz Azul), and Kevin Alvarez (Pachuca CF), who will replace Jesus Gallardo (C.F. Monterrey).

On the eve of the match, the featured eight MLS players competing in the 2021 MLS Skills Challenge presented by AT&T 5G will be Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union, Goalkeeper), Nani (Orlando City SC, Forward), Ricardo Pepi (FC Dallas, Forward), Rodolfo Pizarro (Inter Miami CF, Forward), Diego Rossi (LAFC, Forward), Raúl Ruidíaz (Seattle Sounders FC, Forward), Matt Turner (New England Revolution, Goalkeeper), Lucas Zelarayán (Columbus Crew, Midfielder).

The eight players representing LIGA MX in the skills showcase event will be Rubens Sambueza (Deportivo Toluca F.C, Midfielder), Rogelio Funes Mori (C.F. Monterrey, Forward), Jonathan Rodríguez (Cruz Azul, Forward), Pedro Canelo (Deportivo Toluca F.C., Forward), Diego Valdés (Santos Laguna, Midfielder), Orbelín Pineda (Cruz Azul, Midfielder), Alfredo Talavera (Pumas UNAM, Goalkeeper), and Nahuel Guzmán (Tigres UANL, Goalkeeper).

Rodolfo Pizarro

Pizarro has scored three goals in the two matches leading up to the MLS All-Star Game, including a brace in the team's last match, his first since coming to MLS. Pizarro has registered three goals and two assists thus far in 2021. The 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup, two-time Concacaf Champions League and three-time LIGA MX champion, Mexican international midfielder was signed as the Inter Miami's second Designated Player ever. Pizarro was named to the LIGA MX Best XI for the 2019 Clausura, Concacaf Champions League Best XI in 2018, Concacaf Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament Best XI in 2015 and 2018 Concacaf Champions League Best Young Player. Pizarro has played 31 times for the Mexican national team, scoring five goals, including playing in this year's Concacaf Gold Cup.

George Bello

Bello, a 19-year-old left back from Douglasville, Ga., signed as a Homegrown Player with Atlanta United on June 17, 2017 with the deal becoming effective Jan. 1, 2018. He started the 2018 season with Atlanta United 2 and was brought up to the first team later in the campaign and made his MLS debut on Sept. 2, 2018 vs. D.C. United. He earned his first start Sept. 22, 2018 against Real Salt Lake and scored his first career goal against the New England Revolution on Oct. 6, 2018, becoming the sixth-youngest goal scorer in league history. Bello had a breakout season in 2020, starting a career-high 19 of his 20 MLS appearances at left back, was the second-youngest player to play at least 1,000 MLS minutes in 2020. In 2021, Bello has started 15 of his 16 MLS appearances and recorded two assists, in addition to starting all four of Atlanta's Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League matches. Born in Abuja, Nigeria, Bello moved to Douglasville, Ga., at a young age and joined the Atlanta United Academy in 2016. Bello has spent his entire playing career on the U.S. nyouth National circuit and made his senior team debut with the USMNT in a friendly vs. Trinidad and Tobago on Jan. 31, 2021. Most recently, Bello started two matches during the USMNT's run to the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup title.

The two-hour event will occur at Banc of California Stadium on Tuesday, August 24. A team of eight MLS players will battle eight of LIGA MX's best in five different challenges.

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