Lionel Messi highlights 2024 MLS All-Star Game roster. Here's everything you need to know

World Cup champion Lionel Messi, reigning MLS MVP Luciano Acosta, reigning Golden Boot winner Denis Bouanga, and current MLS scoring leader Chicho Arango headline the 2024 MLS All-Star Game roster, announced by the league Monday.

Messi is one of four Inter Miami stars on the All-Star roster, joined by his former Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba — all voted in by fans on their first year on the ballot. The foursome is among 18 first-time MLS All-Stars on the 30-man roster.

Here's what to know about the 2024 MLS All-Star roster and more to know about the matchup:

MLS All-Star roster 2024

∎GOALKEEPERS (3): Roman Bürki (St. Louis CITY SC / Coach’s Selection), Hugo Lloris (LAFC / Coach’s Selection), Maarten Paes (FC Dallas / Voted in).

∎DEFENDERS (9): Jordi Alba (Inter Miami CF / Voted In), Rudy Camacho (Columbus Crew / Coach’s Selection), Justen Glad (Real Salt Lake / Voted In), Aaron Herrera (D.C. United / Voted In), Thiago Martins (New York City FC / Coach’s Selection), Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew / Coach’s Selection), Luca Orellano (FC Cincinnati / Coach’s Selection), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati / Voted In), Keegan Rosenberry (Colorado Rapids / Coach’s Selection).

∎MIDFIELDERS (10): Luciano Acosta (FC Cincinnati / Voted In), Sergio Busquets (Inter Miami CF / Voted In), Mathieu Choinière (CF Montréal / Coach’s Selection), Evander (Portland Timbers / Coach’s Selection), Ryan Gauld (Vancouver Whitecaps FC / Coach’s Selection), Héctor Herrera (Houston Dynamo FC / Commissioner’s Pick), Robin Lod (Minnesota United FC / Coach’s Selection), Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC / Coach’s Selection), Darlington Nagbe (Columbus Crew / Commissioner’s Pick), Riqui Puig (LA Galaxy / Voted In).

∎FORWARDS / WINGERS (8): Cristian "Chicho" Arango (Real Salt Lake / Voted In), Christian Benteke (D.C. United / Voted In), Federico Bernardeschi (Toronto FC / Coach’s Selection), Denis Bouanga (LAFC / Coach’s Selection), Juan "Cucho" Hernández (Columbus Crew / Coach’s Selection), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF / Voted In), Luis Suárez (Inter Miami CF / Voted In), Diego Rossi (Columbus Crew / Coach’s Selection).

When is the MLS All-Star Game?

The 2024 MLS All-Star Game will be played against a team of LIGA MX standouts at Columbus Crew’s Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio on July 24. That's just 10 days after the Copa America 2024 final, and two days before MLS and LIGA MX clubs begin Leagues Cup 2024.

How is the MLS All-Star Roster decided?

Fans, players, and media voting accounted for 12 players to the MLS All-Star roster, while All-Star coach Wilfried Nancy of the Crew selected 16 players. MLS Commissioner Don Garber made two selections to round out the roster.

2024 MLS All-Star roster fun facts

∎Reigning champions Columbus Crew leads the league with five players on the MLS All-Star roster, highlighted by captain and midfielder Darlington Nagbe, a commissioner selection and one of 10 players in MLS history to win four MLS Cups. Crew forward Cucho Hernández and defenders Steven Moreira and Rudy Camacho will make their MLS All-Star debuts, while Diego Rossi will be making his third overall All-Star appearance.

∎Houston Dynamo FC midfielder Héctor Herrera, a former captain of the Mexican national team, was the other commissioner selection.

∎Messi, the 2022 Argentine World Cup champion, is one of three World Cup champions on the MLS All-Star roster, joined by Busquets (Spain, 2010) and LAFC's Hugo Lloris (France, 2018).

∎Three former MLS Golden Boot winners are on the roster: Denis Bouanga (2023, LAFC), Hany Mukhtar (2022, Nashville SC), and Rossi (2020, LAFC).

∎Of the 29 MLS teams, 18 will be represented at MLS All-Star: FC Cincinnati, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, D.C. United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo FC, Inter Miami CF, LA Galaxy, LAFC, Minnesota United FC, CF Montréal, Nashville SC, New York City FC, Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake, St. Louis CITY SC, Toronto FC, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. 

∎The MLS All-Stars are a diverse group, representing 17 different countries with four players each from the United States and France, while Argentina and Spain have three players, and Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay have two players each. The others are from: Canada, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Finland, Germany, Italy, Liberia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Scotland and Switzerland.