Major League Soccer today unveiled the fan ballot for the 2018 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target, featuring eight players from all 23 clubs as nominated by national media. The following Sporting KC players are eligible for fan voting:
- Goalkeeper: Tim Melia
- Defenders: Matt Besler, Ike Opara and Graham Zusi
- Midfielders: Roger Espinoza and Ilie Sanchez
- Forwards: Johnny Russell and Daniel Salloi
Among Sporting KC’s eight All-Star nominees, five are seeking MLS All-Star recognition for the first time. Besler (2011, 2013-16) and Zusi (2012-15, 2017) are both five-time MLS All-Star selections, while Espinoza was an All-Star in 2012.
Fan voting for the 2018 MLS All-Star Game Fan XI presented by Target is now available through the free MLS app and the EA SPORTS™ “More Than a Vote” Challenge. Fans can continue to vote their favorite players to the Fan XI online at MLSsoccer.com starting on June 8 at 9 a.m. CT. Fan voting will run until June 20.
The MLS All-Stars will face seven-time defending Italian Serie A champions Juventus at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Aug. 1 in the 2018 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target. The summer showcase will air at 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN, UniMás, TSN and TVA Sports domestically as well as across 170 countries globally.
A total of 10 players – one goalkeeper, three defenders, four midfielders and two forwards – with the highest combined votes will be named to the 2018 MLS All-Star Game Fan XI presented by Target. The 11th player – a forward – will be determined by the EA SPORTS™ “More Than a Vote” Challenge. Starting today, fans have the opportunity to vote one forward into the 2018 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target by scoring goals with their favorite MLS All-Star forward candidate in EA SPORTS FIFA 18 on Xbox One, PlayStation®4, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system through June 20.
Sporting KC’s Tim Melia currently ranks second in MLS with five shutouts and boasts a 1.08 goals against average, the second-lowest among keepers with at least five games played. The reigning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year made a career-high 10 saves in a 2-0 win at the LA Galaxy on April 8 to secure MLS Player of the Week honors for Week 6.
Defenders Matt Besler, Ike Opara and Graham Zusi bolster a Sporting KC backline that has conceded just four goals over the last eight games. Besler has played every minute for his hometown club this season and ranks second among MLS defenders with 698 successful passes. Fellow center back Opara is sixth in MLS with 56 clearances and coming off a phenomenal 2017 campaign in which he garnered MLS Defender of the Year accolades.
Zusi, who has two goals and one assist, leads MLS defenders with 23 chances created. He also places among the top 10 in MLS in touches (first), interceptions (10th) and successful passes in the attacking half (fourth) as one of the league’s most dynamic two-way players.
Midfielder Roger Espinoza took just eight games to tie his MLS career-high with five assists. The veteran is second in MLS with 382 successful passes in the attacking half, and among midfielders he ranks sixth in both duels won (87) and tackles won (24). Holding midfielder Ilie, meanwhile, has tallied two goals and three assists in his sophomore season with the club. The Spaniard leads MLS with 402 successful passes in the attacking half and is tied for second in the league with 25 chances created from open play.
Forward Johnny Russell is tied for the team lead with five goals in his first MLS campaign. On April 20, the Scottish international scored the eighth hat-trick in club regular season history to spark a 6-0 rout of Vancouver Whitecaps FC and claim MLS Player of the Week honors. Russell has also assisted three goals and leads MLS in penalties won (three) as well as touches in the opponent’s box (89).
Homegrown forward Daniel Salloi has recorded three goals and four assists in his second full season with Sporting KC. His five combined goals (three) and assists (two) of the game-winning variety are the second-most in MLS, and the club is 7-1-2 this year when Salloi starts.
A total of 24 MLS players will be named All-Stars per the league’s collective bargaining agreement. Media, fans, players, the All-Star coach, Gerardo “Tata” Martino of Atlanta United, and MLS Commissioner Don Garber all contribute in the All-Star selection process, which is broken into three phases as outlined below.
- Ballot creation: Media members determined the field of players – eight players per team – who are most deserving of consideration for this year’s MLS All-Star Game presented by Target. Those players are eligible for fan voting.
- Fan voting: From May 24 through June 20, fans will select the 2018 MLS All-Star Game Fan XI presented by Target. Fans can vote via the free MLS app starting on May 24 and on MLSsoccer.com beginning June 8. Via the EA SPORTS “More than a Vote” Challenge: Starting on May 24, fans will score as many goals as possible with their favorite MLS All-Star forward candidate in FIFA 18, with one goal equaling one vote. The forward with the most votes will occupy one of the forward spots on the 2018 MLS All-Star Game Fan XI presented by Target.
- Team selection: The MLS All-Star head coach will select the gameday roster from the pool of eligible players determined by the media as well as the 2018 MLS All-Star Game Fan XI presented by Target and MLS Commissioner Don Garber’s two selections.
