Nico Estevez says it will be a “pleasure” to educate Lionel Messi, who he’s hopeful will play when MLS and Liga MX’s greatest go head-to-head in Austin on Wednesday.
Austin FC head coach Estevez is taking the reins of the highest gamers in MLS at Q2 Stadium for the twenty ninth iteration of the MLS All-Star Sport, with a group comprised of Mexican soccer’s most interesting as their opponents.
That is the fourth time the All-Star recreation will use the inter-league format, with the MLS All-Stars trying to return to profitable methods in opposition to their Mexican counterparts.
Having received the primary two conferences between the perimeters in 2021 and 2022, the MLS All-Stars misplaced final 12 months’s contest 4-1 in Columbus.
Messi had been set to seem in that match earlier than pulling out injured, and he has been chosen for this 12 months’s roster.
Nevertheless, questions have been raised over his involvement after he, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets have been lacking from Monday’s coaching periods.
Whereas Estevez just isn’t but positive if the Argentinian will play in Wednesday’s recreation, he’s relishing the possibility to work with him.
“That’s a query for his membership,” Estevez mentioned when requested if Messi could be collaborating.
“I simply coach and use the gamers I’m given. I hope so – I’m very optimistic, and I hope he might be there.
“After all, I’d love for him to play. It might be a pleasure to work, even when only for a short while, with the best of all time.”
MLS All-Star 2025 pic.twitter.com/Ox0DLZRcU5
— Main League Soccer (@MLS) July 21, 2025
In the meantime, 19-year-old Obed Vargas is getting his first style of the All-Stars recreation.
The Seattle Sounders teenager is treating the sport as a chance to shine, particularly with the World Cup developing subsequent 12 months, the place he hopes he can signify Mexico.
“Each single time I get to face a kind of groups or if it’s MLS vs. LIGA MX All-Stars, it at all times provides a little bit of motivation for me simply due to my background, and clearly my ties with the Mexico nationwide group and desirous to impress them and do effectively for them,” Vargas advised MLSsoccer.com.
“I believe with the ability to match up in opposition to direct opponents competing type of for a similar spots within the Mexican nationwide group, [it shows] what my degree is and the way I can match up in opposition to these guys.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
MLS All-Stars – Lionel Messi
It ought to come as no shock that Messi will probably be within the highlight for Wednesday’s recreation, even when he solely earns a short cameo on the sector.
He’s the joint-top-scorer in MLS (together with Sam Surridge) this season, having netted 18 objectives in as many matches, whereas he has additionally offered seven assists.
No participant within the competitors has been concerned in additional objectives than him this season (25).
Liga MX All-Stars – James Rodriguez
James Rodriguez reasserted himself through the Copa America final 12 months when he led Colombia to the ultimate, the place they in the end misplaced to Argentina.
He created 20 possibilities, six greater than another participant, offering six assists, 4 away from anybody else. His 2.1 anticipated assists additionally led the match, forward of Messi’s 1.9.
Since becoming a member of Membership Leon in January, James has already netted three objectives in all competitions, whereas registering an extra six assists.
#MLSAllStar in Austin: It’s showtime, y’all.
: @McConaughey pic.twitter.com/wetpzwtkor
— Main League Soccer (@MLS) July 21, 2025
MATCH PREDICTION: MLS ALL-STARS WIN
The MLS All-Stars could not have received both of the final two editions, however they’ll really feel they’ll avenge final 12 months’s defeat after a disappointing second half.
They’ve received two of their earlier three conferences with the Liga MX All-Stars, even when they did want penalties to earn the primary in 2021 after a 1-1 draw.
Certainly, since beating Bayern Munich and Tottenham in back-to-back editions of the sport in 2014 and 2015, these are the MLS All-Stars’ solely victories in a run of seven video games.
Nevertheless, given the attacking aptitude that Estevez’s facet pose, together with the likes of Messi, Surridge, Anders Dreyer and Denis Bouanga, they’re positive to pose a menace.
