2018 MLS All-Star Game

The 2018 Major League Soccer All-Star Game was the 23rd edition of the annual Major League Soccer All-Star Game. It was held on August 1 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia and played against Italian club Juventus. The match was tied 1–1 after 90 minutes and was settled in a penalty shoot-out that Juventus won 5–3.

Josef Martínez won MVP.

The match was attended by 72,317, setting a new record for a standalone MLS All-Star Game.

Pre-match

In October 2017, MLS announced that Atlanta would host the All-Star Game, due to the success of the first-year Atlanta United FC. Juventus was confirmed as the match's opponents in March 2018, participating as part of their American pre-season tour.

Match rules

• Unlimited substitutions
• Penalty shoot-out if tied through full time; no extra time

Squads

MLS All-Stars

(captain)

• Manager: Gerardo Martino (Atlanta United)

Juventus

• Manager: Massimiliano Allegri

Notes:

Injured or otherwise unable to play.

Match

Controversy

Zlatan Ibrahimović, then a player of the Los Angeles Galaxy, was selected for the All-Star Game, but he chose to withdraw from the game, citing fatigue caused by travelling and the congested schedule. In consequence, the MLS suspended Ibrahimović for the regular season game after the All-Star Game, which saw the Colorado Rapids defeat the Galaxy by 2-1. In a later interview, Ibrahimović called the suspension "ridiculous". "They do whatever they want. I come from a different world, I come from the real world." said Ibrahimović.

References