The 2022 MLS All-Star Game will be the 26th edition of the match and the 19th to feature one team of MLS All-Stars against a guest opponent. This has been the format used continually since 2005, though from 2005 through 2019, a European club was the opposition.
There has been plenty of drama in recent All-Star Games, with three of the last four going to penalties. Only one of the first 21 MLS All-Star Games, the 2009 edition featuring Everton as the opponent, went to spot kicks. MLS won last year but lost in both 2017 and 2018.
Minnesota is the 13th different state/province to host one of the 14 editions of the All-Star Game since 2008. Only California (San Jose in 2016, Los Angeles in 2021) has hosted twice in that span.
MLS saw a record-setting Saturday on August 6 that featured 57 goals, 11 more than had been scored on any day in league history. In the 2022 calendar year, MLS matches have averaged 2.9 goals per match compared to 2.5 for Liga MX (including Liguilla).
Uriel Antuna, having spent 2019 with the LA Galaxy while on loan from Manchester City, is the only member of the Liga MX All-Star squad to have played in MLS. Four MLS All-Stars have played at least one match in Liga MX (L. Acosta, P. Arriola, Chicharito, R. Ruidíaz).
Sebastián Driussi has become an MVP frontrunner on the back of his MLS-high 16 goals this season. Driussi has been involved in at least one goal in a league-high 16 games, including the last seven he’s played in, this season.
Carles Gil, making his second straight All-Star appearance, has been the best creator in MLS since his debut in 2019. Gil not only has a league-high 46 assists in that time, but his 341 chances created are 85 more than any other player in that time (Maxi Moralez – 256).
Emanuel Reynoso will represent hosts Minnesota United at this year’s All-Star Game as he’s rounded into form with six goals and three assists in six appearances since late June. Including playoffs, Reynoso has been involved in 46 MLS goals for the Loons (16 goals, 30 assists), more than any other player in Minnesota United’s history.
Atlas goalkeeper Camilo Vargas has kept more clean sheets (20) than any other goalkeeper in Liga MX since the start of the 2021-22 season. His 77 saves were second-most in the league during the 2022 Clausura.
Luis Quiñones (Tigres) was the joint leader in assists in the 2022 Liga MX Clausura with seven. His 45 chances created were tied for the second most in the competition, while he led Liga MX in open play crosses with 114 over the course of the tournament.
Julián Quiñones was the top scorer for tournament winners Atlas, scoring nine times for the champions in last year’s Clausura. He’s scored two goals so far this season, including one against Querétaro on Thursday night.
