Costa Rica’s goalkeeper Keylor Navas, a veteran of three World Cups, and Mexican teenage sensation Gilberto Mora are among the stars representing the Liga MX in the upcoming All-Star Game against MLS players on July 29 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
On Wednesday, Liga MX revealed its 26-player roster, with two more players set to be announced soon by the Mexican Football Federation Commissioner, Mikel Arriola.
The match is scheduled to take place at Bank of America Stadium.
The team, guided by Argentine coach Antonio Mohamed of Toluca, also features standout players such as Colombian defender Willer Ditta and Mexican players Israel Reyes, Jesús Gallardo, Érik Lira, Brian Gutiérrez, Mora, and Armando González.
A total of 14 of the 26 players were chosen based on their performance in Liga MX’s Balon de Oro awards, which recognize the best players of the Apertura and Clausura seasons each summer.
The remaining players were selected by Mohamed, along with the two yet-to-be-named players from the Mexican Football Federation’s pool.
Among the 26 players, six have recently represented Mexico in the World Cup: Mora, Lira, Reyes, Gallardo, Gutiérrez, and González.
This matchup with MLS will be the fifth between the two leagues in the All-Star Game, with MLS holding the edge with three wins from the previous four encounters.
Earlier in July, MLS revealed its roster, which features the global superstar Lionel Messi.
Liga MX Roster for the All-Star Game:
Goalkeepers: Keylor Navas (Pumas) and Nahuel Guzmán (Tigres).
Defenders: Bruno Méndez (Toluca), Willer Ditta (Cruz Azul), Federico Pereira (Toluca), Nathan Silva (Pumas), Israel Reyes (América), Jesús Garza (Tigres), Richard Ledezma (Guadalajara), Jesús Gallardo (Toluca), Bryan González (Guadalajara), and Érik Lira (Cruz Azul).
Midfielders: Franco Romero (Toluca), Carlos Rodríguez (Cruz Azul), Iker Fimbres (Monterrey), Nicolás Castro (Toluca), Brian Gutiérrez (Guadalajara), Fernando Gorriarán (Tigres), Gilberto Mora (Tijuana), José Paradela (Cruz Azul), Juan Brunetta (Tigres), and Kevin Castañeda (Tijuana).
Forwards: Santiago Sandoval (Guadalajara), Armando González (Guadalajara), and Robert Morales (Pumas).