7-7 – MLS vs. Europe
Since the MLS All-Star game moved to the “MLS vs. Europe” format in 2005, the league’s All-Stars are 7-7 against European clubs. This includes three losses on penalty kicks, including each of the last two seasons against Real Madrid and Juventus, respectively. MLS has never won a PK shootout against a European club. The league won its first four games against European teams, but has struggled in recent seasons—MLS has not won an All-Star game since defeating Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in 2015.
2 – Orlando City goals
Orlando players have had a huge impact on the All-Star game in a very short span of time. Kaka won the game’s MVP award and scored a penalty in the victory over Tottenham in 2015, while Dom Dwyer notched a late equalizer against Real Madrid in 2017 just days after the Lions acquired the striker in a trade with Sporting Kansas City.
14 – Nationalities on All-Star team
The 2019 MLS All-Star roster is one of the most diverse in league history, featuring representatives from 14 countries. The United States leads the way with seven representatives, including Orlando native Graham Zusi. Argentina placed four players on the team, while Mexico, Uruguay, and Jamaica have two each. Players alone in representing their nations are Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden), Josef Martinez (Venezuela), Wayne Rooney (England), Diego Chara (Colombia), Mark-Anthony Kaye (Canada), Nani (Portugal), Alejandro Pozuelo (Spain), Romain Metanire (Madagascar), and Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany).
143,000,000 – Joao Felix fee
MLS All-Star opponent Atletico Madrid had perhaps the busiest summer transfer window of any club in the world. Club legends Antoine Griezmann, Diego Godin, Juanfran, and Felipe Luis left for other clubs, while Los Rojiblancos added El Tri star Hector Herrera, former Real Madrid midfielder Marcos Llorente, and England right back Kieran Trippier (among others) to bolster the squad. Their biggest move by far, though, was securing the signature of Portuguese teenage sensation Joao Felix, who came from Benfica for a $143 million transfer fee, the fifth-highest in the history of soccer. Felix, just 19 years old, has received comparisons to Cristiano Ronaldo, scoring 20 goals in 43 appearances for Benfica last season.
30,000 – Orlando City Foundation winnings
It’s been a great week for the Orlando City Foundation, as the club’s representatives in various MLS events have taken home prize money for the club’s charitable organization. It started Sunday, when FIFA Abe and play-in winner AnthFifa took down an eight-team field to win the eMLS All-Star Challenge and net $5,000. Then on Tuesday night, Nani’s buzzer-beating half-field crossbar hit in the passing competition won the inaugural MLS All-Star Skills Challenge for the Orlando City team, defeating the MLS All-Star trio of Rooney, Carlos Vela, and Jonathan dos Santos, along with a star-studded Atletico Madrid group of Felix, Herrera, and team captain Koke. Nani, Sebas Mendez, and Chris Mueller took home $25,000 for the foundation with the win. You can read more about the Orlando City Foundation here.
