It’s that time of the year again and the 2016 AT&T MLS All-Star game is upon us, and Wil Trapp will make history as Columbus Crew SC's first ever homegrown All-Star.
Tonight some of the biggest names in the League will unite to take on the English Premier League club Arsenal FC in the 2016 MLS AT&T All-Star Game. Before the showdown in San Jose, here are three things to know about the MLS All-Star Game.
A little history
The MLS All-Star Game started
as a clash between the League's Eastern and Western Conferences in 1996 and then — over time — transformed into a match where the best players from the East and West unite to face some of the globe's biggest soccer clubs. The world's greatest names in soccer have graced the MLS All-Star Game with their presence and the trend continues into 2016...
All-stars aligned
This year the All-Star team has a loaded lineup with obvious standouts and second-timers like Orlando City's Kaka — who was voted team captain by MLS fans — and New York City FC's David Villa, who have both proved their dominance on the pitch, topping the League's charts.
But we can’t forget about the first-time All-Stars like Columbus Crew SC’s very own Trapp, last year's MLS rookie of the year Cyle Larin and Philly's goalkeeper Andre Blake, three of the many young players on the 2016 All-Star squad whose futures look incredibly bright. A little mix of old and new? Sounds pretty good to us.
Third times a charm
For the past two years the MLS All-Stars have walked away with victories against their opponents. In 2014, the All-Stars defeated the German super-club Bayern Munich 2-1. Then in 2015, history repeated itself and the All-Stars won again, 2-1, over Tottenham Hotspur at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
With a vast amount of talent on both teams, the MLS All-Stars hope that the odds will be in their favor (again).
Be sure to catch the 2016 AT&T MLS ALL-Star game on ESPN tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET.
