Cristian Espinoza’s stellar season has earned the forward a spot on Major League Soccer’s All-Star team. The Argentine forward will be one of 26 MLS players suiting up in the 2023 MLS All-Star Game, where the league’s top players will take on
Premier League power Arsenal. Espinoza, 28, has already scored a career-high eight goals and added six assists so far for the Earthquakes. He was chosen as the MLS Player of the Month in April when he scored five goals and added an assist. His strong start has been a key piece of San Jose’s early season success. Through 20 matches, the Quakes have earned 27 points (seven wins, six draws, seven losses), putting them in fifth place in the Western Conference. San Jose hasn’t finished a season with a winning record since 2013 Espinoza is just the third
earthquake to make the MLS All-Star team in the last six seasons. Midfielder Cade Cowell was chosen as an All-Star in 2021 and Quakes legend Chris Wondolowski received his fifth and final nod in 2019. The MLS All-Stars last played
Arsenal in 2016, when the Earthquakes hosted the game. Arsenal won that match 2-1 and the Quakes had two players representing them in the match – Wondolowski and goalkeeper David Bingham. This season’s All-Star Game will take place in
Washington D.C. at Audi Field on July 19. Former
Manchester United star and current D.C. United coach Wayne Rooney, who will manage the MLS team, used one of his 12 coach’s spots to select Espinoza for the team. While the MLS All-Star team will feature players from across the 29 teams, it will not feature international icon
Lionel Messi, who has reportedly agreed to join Inter Miami. Messi played in testimonial matches in
Argentina over the weekend, and when he will first suit up for Miami’s MLS team remains unclear.