Every year, I wait until the very last minute to submit my MLS All-Star media ballot. Better to see every minute, play, goal or blunder possible before hitting send – why rush it?
But there’s absolutely no reason not to stuff the ballot box when it comes to the 2018 MLS All-Star Game Fan XI presented by Target. Vote early and often (once a day, if you feel the need) in the all-new official MLS app. Vote for whoever you want, for whatever reason you want. Vote so you can win a VIP trip to the game in Atlanta. Vote so Atlanta United fans can’t turn the All-Star XI into a Five Stripes XI.
For the purposes of my Fan XI, we’re sticking with the 3-4-3 formation per the ballot. No, I probably wouldn’t play Juventus in a 3-4-3; it’s just a ballot. And this is how it stands right now, on June 1. This can – and will – change.
Wiebe's 2018 MLS All-Star Game Fan XI presented by Target
Forwards
- Bradley Wright-Phillips (RBNY)
- Alberth Elis (HOU)
- Carlos Vela (LAFC)
Midfielders
- Kaku (RBNY)
- Miguel Almiron (ATL)
- Ignacio Piatti (MTL)
- Diego Chara (POR)
Defenders
- Harrison Afful (CLB)
- Aaron Long (RBNY)
- Julian Gressel (ATL)
Feel free to swap Tim Parker in here if you’d like. I just think Long and his mullet need more love.
Goalkeeper
- Matt Turner (NE)
Because it’s Friday, here are some alternative XIs, with no positional restrictions. I shuffled goalkeepers to share the wealth. And no, not all these names are on the 184-man Fan XI ballot. This is just for fun, no rules allowed.
Feel free to share your own in the comment section, hit me up on Twitter @andrew_wiebe or just yell into the void.
Pure Entertainment XI
Forwards
- Alberth Elis (HOU)
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic (LA)
Midfielders
- Miguel Almiron (ATL)
- Kaku (RBNY)
- Johnny Russell (SKC)
- Ilsinho (PHI)
- Tyler Adams (RBNY)
Defenders
- Laurent Ciman (LAFC)
- Francisco Calvo (MIN)
- Mohamed El-Munir (ORL)
Goalkeeper
- Zack Steffen (CLB)
Bench
- Alan Gordon (CHI)
He's not on the ballot, but it had to be done.
All-Domestic XI
Americans and Canadians only.
Forwards
- Gyasi Zardes (CLB)
- Teal Bunbury (NE)
- Dom Dwyer (ORL)
Midfielders
- Miguel Ibarra (MIN)
- Alphonso Davies (VAN)
- Jonathan Osorio (TOR), Darlington Nagbe (ATL)
- Tyler Adams (RBNY)
Concacaf Champions League or MLS? Up to you.
Defenders
- Ike Opara (SKC)
- Tim Parker/Aaron Long (RBNY)
- Graham Zusi (SKC)
You can’t make me pick just one. They are a package deal.
Goalkeeper
- Matt Turner (NE)
All-#PlayTheKids XI
They’re just getting started (21 or younger) but they’re already ballers.
Forwards
- Chris Mueller (ORL)
- Diego Rossi (LAFC)
Midfielders
- Daniel Salloi (SKC)
- Alphonso Davies (VAN)
- Tyler Adams (RBNY)
- Yangel Herrera (NYC)
Killed me to leave off Chris Durkin (DC), but the Venezuelan is just too good.
Defenders
- Milton Valenzuela (CLB)
- Auston Trusty (PHI)
- Justen Glad (RSL)
- Reggie Cannon (DAL)
Goalkeeper
- Zack Steffen (CLB)
Steffen is 23, so I’m stretching a little to fill out the team, but he’s the
youngest
second youngest starter in MLS and goalkeepers are just different.
All-Veteran XI
In the real world, the big 3-0 isn’t that old. I’m 31, so for vanity reasons the cutoff is 32.
Forwards
- Bradley Wright-Phillips (RBNY)
- David Villa (NYC)
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic (LA)
Midfielders
- Ignacio Piatti (MTL)
- Federico Higuain (CLB)
- Bastian Schweinsteiger (CHI)
- Diego Chara (POR)
Defenders
- DaMarcus Beasley (HOU)
- Reto Ziegler (DAL)
- Michael Parkhurst (ATL)
Goalkeeper
- Tim Melia (SKC)
Newcomer XI
You got it.
Forwards
- Carlos Vela (LAFC)
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic (LA)
- Cristian Penilla (NE)
Midfielders
- Kaku (RBNY)
- Johnny Russell (SKC)
- Borek Dockal (PHI)
- Saphir Taider (MTL)
Defenders
- Milton Valenzuela (CLB)
- Reto Ziegler (DAL)
- Anton Tinnerholm (NYC)
Goalkeeper
- Jimmy Maurer (DAL)
