Major international stars who are newcomers to Major League Soccer this season highlight the first MLS All-Star Game player selections announced Monday by the league.
The game will be played at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on July 29, when the MLS all-stars play Tottenham Hotspur of the English Premier League.
The two discretionary picks made by commissioner Don Garber are midfielders Steven Gerrard, a longtime star for Liverpool who joined the Los Angeles Galaxy this month, and Frank Lampard, Chelsea’s leading scorer who made his MLS debut with New York City FC on Sunday.
Among the 11 players picked by fan voting are NYCFC’s David Villa, who starred for Valencia, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid before joining NYCFC this season, and Orlando City FC’s Kaka, a Brazilian who was the 2007 FIFA world player of the year. Villa and Kaka were the first major signings by their clubs, which are expansion teams this season.
U.S. national team standouts also were selected by the fans, including forward Clint Dempsey (Seattle) and Michael Bradley (Toronto), both of whom are with the U.S. team now in the Gold Cup.
The rest of the 22-man MLS roster will be announced Saturday. Rapids coach Pablo Mastroeni will coach the MLS team.
MLS has been bringing major international clubs to play in the All-Star Game since 2005. Last year the MLS all-stars beat Bayern Munich of Germany’s Bundesliga 2-1 in Portland, Ore.
“It’s a fun game to play in,” said Houston defender DaMarcus Beasley, who will be making his fourth all-star appearance, but his first since 2003. “It’s a time where you can relax a little bit, but these games are important. We’re not just playing East vs. West, now we’re playing against good European teams. You want to give a good effort and try to win the game.”
John Meyer: jmeyer@denverpost.com or
2015 MLS All-Star Roster
Goalkeeper: Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
Defenders: Matt Besler (Sporting K.C.), Omar Gonzalez (L.A. Galaxy), DaMarcus Beasley (Houston)
Midfielders: Kaka (Orlando City FC), Michael Bradley (Toronto), Benny Feilhaber (Sporting K.C.), Graham Zusi (Sporting K.C.)
Forwards: David Villa (NYCFC), Clint Dempsey (Seattle), Obafemi Martins (Seattle)
Commissioner’s picks: Steven Gerrard (L.A. Galaxy), Frank Lampard (NYCFC)
