ATLANTA — Major League Soccer announced Monday that forward Josef Martinez was selected to MLS’ 26-man roster for the 2019 MLS All-Star Game.
Martinez joins teammates Ezequiel Barco, Gonzalo Martínez, Brad Guzan and Leandro González Pirez, who were voted to the MLS All-Star Game Fan XI, as Atlanta United boasts a league-high five selections.
Comprised of MLS All-Star Fan XI presented by Target, two Commissioner’s picks and 13 selections by MLS All-Star head coach James O’Connor of Orlando City SC, including Martinez, the MLS roster will face 10-time La Liga champions Atlético de Madrid at Exploria Stadium in Orlando on Wednesday, July 31 (8 p.m. ET, live on FS1, UniMas, TSN and TVA Sports).
This is Martinez’s second MLS All-Star Game selection. The 26-year-old leads Atlanta with 10 goals through 15 games and is currently representing Venezuela at Copa America. Martinez became the first player in MLS history to win three MVP honors in the same season in 2018 (MLS Regular Season, All-Star Game, MLS Cup) and scored in last season’s All-Star Game versus Juventus at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The 2018 Golden Boot winner also set an MLS single-season record with 31 regular season goals and helped lead Atlanta to win its first MLS Cup.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber has honored two players with his special selections in 19-year-old Paxton Pomykal, an FC Dallas academy product and U.S. U-20 National Team midfielder, along with Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando, who owns nearly every league record at his position ahead of his retirement at the end of this season.
Among teams contributing multiple players, Atlanta United leads all MLS clubs with five All-Stars, while LAFC is second with four and the LA Galaxy have two.
The MLS All-Stars will face Atlético de Madrid, whose ten La Liga championships rank among the top three in Spain. The iconic club has won 30 trophies across all competitions, including Europa League in 2018, and finished second in La Liga in 2019.
Tickets to the 2019 MLS All-Star Game are now on sale by visiting Ticketmaster.com.
2019 MLS All-Star Game Roster by Position:
Goalkeepers: Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union), Brad Guzan (Atlanta United), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
Defenders: Matt Hedges (FC Dallas), Kemar Lawrence (New York Red Bulls), Romain Metanire (Minnesota United FC), Leandro González Pírez (Atlanta United), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Chicago Fire), Walker Zimmerman (Los Angeles Football Club), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
Midfielders: Ezequiel Barco (Atlanta United), Diego Chara (Portland Timbers), Jonathan dos Santos (LA Galaxy), Mark Anthony Kaye (LAFC), Nicolas Lodeiro (Seattle Sounders FC), Gonzalo “Pity” Martínez (Atlanta United), Maxi Moralez (NYCFC), Nani (Orlando City SC), Paxton Pomykal (FC Dallas), Alejandro Pozuelo (Toronto FC) Diego Rossi (LAFC)
Forwards: Zlatan Ibrahimović (LA Galaxy – EA SPORTS™ “More Than a Vote” Challenge), Josef Martinez (Atlanta United), Wayne Rooney (D.C. United), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes) Carlos Vela (Los Angeles Football Club)
