Sporting Kansas City forward Daniel Salloi was named an MLS All-Star today as Major League Soccer unveiled the 28-player roster for the 2021 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target.
Salloi is set to compete in a historic matchup between the MLS All-Stars and the LIGA MX All-Stars on Aug. 25 at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles. The highly anticipated summer showcase is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT with live coverage on FS1 and Univision.
The first Sporting KC Academy product to earn MLS All-Star recognition, Salloi was one of 13 players picked by LAFC and All-Star Head Coach Bob Bradley. An additional 13 players were selected through a combination of fan, player and media voting, while MLS Commissioner Don Garber made two additional selections to round out the squad.
Salloi, 25, has enjoyed a phenomenal sixth season with Sporting as one of the most prolific attacking players in MLS. The Hungarian winger is tied for the league lead with 13 combined goals (nine) and primary assists (four) and has an MLS-best five game-winning goals. He also ranks first among forwards with 25 chances created and second with 91 touches in the opponent’s box. Salloi’s 48 shots and 18 shots on target are fourth and eighth on the MLS charts, respectively.
Salloi’s production has helped Sporting compete at or near the top of the Western Conference with one of the league’s best attacks. Manager Peter Vermes’ side ranks third in MLS with 29 goals and second in both shots and chances created per match. Salloi has scored or assisted in eight of Sporting’s last 11 matches, during which time the club has gone 7-2-2 and climbed within two points of first-place Seattle Sounders FC in the West. The forward’s eight goals since May 16 are second most in MLS.
Since signing for Sporting as a Homegrown Player in 2016, Salloi has amassed 32 goals and 14 assists in 122 appearances across all competitions. A breakthrough campaign in 2017 saw him score six goals, including the winner against the New York Red Bulls in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final at Children’s Mercy Park. Salloi reached new heights in 2018, claiming golden boot honors for the club with 16 goals and seven assists—including three strikes in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
In addition to winning the 2017 U.S. Open Cup, Salloi helped Sporting to first-place finishes in the West in 2018 and 2020. He was also named the club’s Neal and Jeanne Patterson Humanitarian of the Year in 2019 for his philanthropic work with The Victory Project and across the Kansas City community.
A native of Budapest, Hungary, Salloi moved to the United States in August 2014 as an exchange student and attended Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park, Kansas. He joined the Sporting Kansas City Academy U-18s for the 2014-15 season and scored a team-high 21 goals in 28 appearances, including three hat-tricks. During his time in the Academy, Salloi lived with a host family in a program currently supported by the Audi Goals Drive Progress initiative.
2021 MLS All-Star Game Roster
Goalkeepers (2): Pedro Gallese (Orlando City SC; voted in), Matt Turner (New England Revolution; coach selection)
Defenders (9): Julian Araujo (LA Galaxy; coach selection), Jesus Murillo (LAFC; coach selection), Nouhou Tolo (Seattle; voted in), Miles Robinson (Atlanta; coach selection), Alex Roldan (Seattle; voted in), James Sands (NYCFC; coach selection), Kai Wagner (Philadelphia; coach selection), Yeimar Gomez Andrade (Seattle; voted in), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville; voted in)
Midfielders (7): Eduard Atuesta (LAFC; coach selection), Carles Gil (New England; voted in), Damir Kreilach (Real Salt Lake; coach selection), Joao Paulo (Seattle; voted in), Emanuel Reynoso (Minnesota; coach selection), Cristian Roldan (Seattle; voted in), Lucas Zelarayan (Columbus; voted in)
Forwards/Wingers (10): Gustavo Bou (New England; coach selection), Tajon Buchanan (New England; Commissioner selection), Cade Cowell (San Jose; Commissioner selection), Javier Hernandez (LA Galaxy; voted in), Nani (Orlando; voted in), Ricardo Pepi (Dallas; coach selection), Diego Rossi (LAFC; coach selection), Raul Ruidiaz (Seattle; voted in), Daniel Salloi (Sporting KC; coach selection), Carlos Vela (LAFC; voted in)
Sporting KC MLS All-Star History
- 1996: Preki, Mo Johnston, Vitalis “Digital” Takawira
- 1997: Preki (2), Mo Johnston (2), Vitalis “Digital” Takawira (2), Mark Chung, Richard Gough
- 1998: Preki (3), Mo Johnston (3), Uche Okafor
- 1999: Preki (4), Alexi Lalas
- 2000: Preki (5), Chris Henderson, Matt McKeon, Tony Meola, Peter Vermes
- 2001: Matt McKeon
- 2002: Preki (6), Tony Meola (2), Mike Burns, Chris Klein
- 2003: Preki (7), Chris Klein (2)
- 2004: Chris Klein (3), Jimmy Conrad, Josh Wolff, Kerry Zavagnin
- 2005: Chris Klein (4), Jimmy Conrad (2)
- 2006: Jimmy Conrad (3), Jose Burciaga, Jr.
- 2007: Jimmy Conrad (4), Kevin Hartman, Eddie Johnson
- 2008: Jimmy Conrad (5)
- 2009: Jimmy Conrad (6), Davy Arnaud
- 2010: Jimmy Nielsen
- 2011: Matt Besler, Omar Bravo
- 2012: Jimmy Nielsen (2), Roger Espinoza, Aurelien Collin, Kei Kamara, Graham Zusi
- 2013: Matt Besler (2), Aurelien Collin (2), Graham Zusi (2)
- 2014: Matt Besler (3), Aurelien Collin (3), Graham Zusi (3), Dom Dwyer
- 2015: Matt Besler (4), Graham Zusi (4), Benny Feilhaber
- 2016: Matt Besler (5)
- 2017: Graham Zusi (5)
- 2018: Graham Zusi (6), Ilie Sanchez
- 2019: Graham Zusi (7)
- 2021: Daniel Salloi
