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 (6:00pm 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, Gallese will still be available to participate in the All-Star Game.
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 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).
