The MLS All-Stars beat the Liga MX All-Stars 4-3 at Bank of America Stadium on Wednesday, July 29, in front of 35,197 people, the first All-Star Game the league has played in Charlotte. Son Heung-min of LAFC scored twice inside four first-half minutes and was named the game's Most Valuable Player. Tim Ream, the Charlotte FC captain, started at center back.
How it happened
Liga MX led first. Juan Brunetta of Tigres curled a set piece to the back post in the 9th minute and Luis Gabriel Rey of Chivas headed it in.
Son answered twice in three minutes, both created by Carles Gil of the New England Revolution. Gil played him through in the 20th minute, then crossed for a volley in the 23rd after Hany Mukhtar of Nashville SC found him. Philip Zinckernagel of the Chicago Fire made it 3-1 in the 42nd minute, finishing a loose ball in the box first time.
Salomon Rondon of Pachuca pulled one back in the 50th minute off a backheel from Carlos Rodriguez of Cruz Azul. Evander of FC Cincinnati restored the three-goal cushion in the 58th, curling in a finish after Sam Surridge and Andy Najar worked it to him. Jose Paradela of Cruz Azul scored in the first minute of stoppage time to make the last few moments interesting.
Scoring summary
- 9' Liga MX, Rey (Brunetta)
- 20' MLS, Son (Gil)
- 23' MLS, Son (Gil, Mukhtar)
- 42' MLS, Zinckernagel
- 50' Liga MX, Rondon
- 58' MLS, Evander (Surridge)
- 90'+1 Liga MX, Paradela (Reyes)
The Charlotte FC players
Tim Ream, Pep Biel and Ashley Westwood were the first Charlotte FC players ever named to an MLS All-Star roster. Ream started the game at the back. Biel and Westwood were both listed among the substitutes.
Ream's selection carried a record with it. He is the first player in league history to go 15 years between All-Star selections, having last been picked in 2011 as a young defender with the New York Red Bulls before spending 13 years in England. The previous longest gap belonged to Tim Howard, who was an All-Star in 2003 and again in 2017.
Other things worth knowing
Lionel Messi, who was named to the All-Star roster, did not appear in the lineup or among the substitutes.
Maxime Crepeau of Orlando City made six saves for the MLS side, the most by a goalkeeper in the game since Edwin van der Sar made 10 for Manchester United in 2010.
The win moved MLS to 4-1 all time against Liga MX in the All-Star Game. Ciara headlined the halftime show.
Common questions
Who won the 2026 MLS All-Star Game?
The MLS All-Stars, 4-3 over the Liga MX All-Stars.
Who was the MVP of the 2026 MLS All-Star Game?
Son Heung-min of LAFC, who scored both of his goals in the first half.
What was the attendance?
35,197 at Bank of America Stadium.
Did Lionel Messi play?
No. He was on the All-Star roster but did not appear in the lineup or among the substitutes.
Which Charlotte FC players took part?
Tim Ream started, and Pep Biel and Ashley Westwood were among the substitutes. They are the first three All-Star selections in the club's history.
More from the Mercury
Read our reporting on Charlotte FC's first All-Star selections and Dean Smith's appointment and on the All-Star roster that came to Charlotte, follow the club all season on the Charlotte FC page, or browse everything at the Sports Desk.
