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Participating Players Announced for 2023 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge Presented by AT&T 5G

Published on July 6, 2023 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


NEW YORK - 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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Major League Soccer Stories from July 6, 2023


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