Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) forward Carlos Vela and defender Laurent Ciman were voted by Major League Soccer fans to the 2018 MLS All-Star Fan XI presented by Target, MLS announced today. The MLS All-Star Team takes on Italian powerhouse Juventus in the 2018 MLS All-Star Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Wednesday, Aug. 1, at 7:30 p.m. ET, live on ESPN, UniMás, TSN and TVA Sports.
The first All-Stars in Club history, Vela leads LAFC with seven goals and five assists in 12 games. A key member of the Mexican National Team, Vela is currently starring in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, leading Mexico to two victories and becoming just the second non-U.S. international playing for an MLS club to score a goal in the tournament. Vela also appeared in the 2010 World Cup and won two Concacaf Gold Cups with El Tri.
Vela was selected as the EA SPORTS™ “More Than a Vote” Challenge winner, taking the top prize as fans scored more than two million goals for the LAFC star in EA SPORTS FIFA 18.
This will be Ciman’s third appearance in the MLS All-Star Game, as the Belgium National Team defender was also selected in 2015 and 2016. The 2015 MLS Defender of the Year and MLS Best XI member, Ciman has started and appeared in 13 games for LAFC this season, scoring three goals, including the dramatic game-winning, inaugural goal in the first match at Banc of California Stadium. Ciman’s three goals off direct free kicks this season is already the most by a defender in MLS history and is tied for fourth-most direct free kick goals in a single season.
The 2018 MLS All-Star gameday roster, consisting of 24 players, will be announced at a later date and will include the 2018 MLS All-Star Fan XI presented by Target, two Commissioner’s Picks, and 11 players selected by All-Star Head Coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino, whose Atlanta United have the most points in MLS. Martino will select the starting 11 from the 24-man MLS All-Star roster.
The 2018 MLS All-Stars will face off against Juventus, the Italian giants who won their seventh consecutive Serie A title earlier this year. Juventus is the most decorated club in Italy, winning more Serie A and Coppa Italia titles than any other Italian club. Juventus also reached the UEFA Champions League final in two of the past four years (2015, 2017). The team is managed by Massimiliano Allegri, who just completed his fourth season with the club.
Tickets to the 2018 MLS All-Star Game against Juventus are now on sale by visiting Ticketmaster.com. Tickets start as low as $35.
2018 MLS All-Star Fan XI presented by Target
Goalkeeper: Brad Guzan (Atlanta United)
Defenders: Michael Parkhurst (Atlanta United), Laurent Ciman (Los Angeles Football Club),Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
Midfielders: Miguel Almirón (Atlanta United), Ezequiel Barco (Atlanta United), Darlington Nagbe (Atlanta United), Diego Valeri (Portland Timbers)
Forwards: Josef Martínez (Atlanta United), Zlatan Ibrahimović (LA Galaxy), Carlos Vela (Los Angeles Football Club – EA SPORTS™ “More Than a Vote” Challenge)
