In what’s sure to be a sensational contest, the MLS 2021 All-Star Game is coming later this month and fans can’t wait for it. This summer, we’ll see the best MLS players take on the top Liga MX players head-to-head in what figures to be a close contest. In this article, we have our MLS 2021 All-Star Game futures picks, as this could be a high-scoring affair. Which team will come out on top?
MLS and Liga MX players will be ready to put on a show
it goes without saying, but both MLS and Liga MX players will be ready to put on a show from start to finish in this one. This is a game we’ve never seen before, as the stars from each respective league will face off. This was originally supposed to happen last season, but the game was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, though, things are all ready to be played in California on Aug. 25.
The rosters have already been submitted too, and folks are definitely going to be fired up about things. That’s because for the MLS, players like Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez, Carlos Vela, Miles Robinson, Matt Turner, Luis Nani, Raul Ruidiaz and others have already confirmed that they’re going to play. Imagine that much talent out on the pitch trying to score goals together.
As for the Liga MX side, the Mexican clubs will be sending so much talent up north for this exciting showcase. On the list? We’ve got Guillermo Ochoa, Alexis Canelo, Rubens Sambueza, Luis Montes, Angel Mena and more. Ochoa is one of the best Mexican goalies ever. As for Mena, he is a goal-scorer for the Ecuador national team too, finding the back of the net against Brazil in the Copa America.
While the MLS odds for this matchup are yet to be released, we do think it could end up being a contest that finishes with 5-6 goals. There’s simply going to be too much star power out on the field for it to be low scoring. In terms of making a selection for who will win, we like the MLS All-Stars to come out on top. They’ll look to strike first and keep the pressure on. Indeed, the MLS is our pick.
Raul Ruidiaz scoring in the All-Star Game is written in the stars
For the MLS, Raul Ruidiaz scoring in the All-Star Game is written in the stars for this one. A standout for the Seattle Sounders, Ruidiaz is in the middle of a brilliant campaign for the Seattle Sounders. Thanks to his great play, Ruidiaz has Seattle among the best teams in the MLS and they’re considered one of the favorites to win the championship this season.
Should that happen, you already know that Ruidiaz will play a big role in making that happen. Ruidiaz has scored 13 goals for the Sounders so far this season, which is No. 1 in the MLS. With his great control and terrific shooting abilities, the Peruvian has been the class for Seattle’s attack for a while now. He reminded everyone of that against the Timbers last weekend too.
In a highly-anticipated showdown between Seattle and Portland, Ruidiaz scored two goals in the impressive 6-2 road win. This was highlighted by an unreal free kick from just outside of the box, which the stud blasted into the top right corner. The away fans for Seattle went nuts in the stands and rightfully so. Ruidiaz will look to continue his scoring ways later this month in the All-Star Game.
Again, the odds from the MLS All-Star Game are yet to be released by the Las Vegas sportsbooks, but we highly recommend placing a bet on Ruidiaz scoring against the Liga MX side. Ruidiaz shines brightest on the big stage, which will continue against the Liga MX defenders. Our pick is definitely for him to score at least one goal. Do you agree with us? Check out our MLS betting sites, like Bovada, and get a wager in.
In addition to the main event on Aug. 25, there’s also the All-Star Game skills challenge coming up the night before. This will really be fun, as the top guys from each side will be participating in a series of different events where they can show everyone just how good they are at multiple different levels. It’s something that will be fun to watch. With that said, who will end up winning the Skills Challenge?
The lineups have already been revealed for that challenge and it’s loaded. For the MLS, they’ll be sending out the following players: Carlos Vela, Raul Ruidiaz, Lucas Zelarayán, Javier Hernandez, Luis Nani, Ricardo Pepi, Matt Turner and Pedro Gallese. Meanwhile for the Liga MX, they’ll be going with: Andre-Pierre Gignac, Rodrigo Funes Mori, Jonathan Rodríguez, Rubens Sambueza, Diego Valdés, Orbelín Pineda, Alfredo Talavera and Nahuel Guzmán.
As you can see, this will be quite the battle. These guys will be putting their skills to the test in a shooting challenge, passing challenge and a crossbar challenge. We really can’t wait to see things go down here. While this should be a back-and-forth Skills Challenge, we’re going to give the upper hand here to the Liga MX team. They’re our pick to win the Skills Challenge, but we’re still going with the MLS to win the All-Star Game.
Chris Wassel is someone who has covered a little bit of everything: business, writing, sports, food, grilling, the Olympics, injuries, politics, and more. He has climbed mountains like Mount Washington and Mount San Jacinto in Palm Springs, California, and for those who don’t know, he is also big into food challenges. With friends like Joey Chestnut and Casey Webb, Chris has tackled eating feats like finishing a 16-pound turkey or a 32-inch meat lover's pizza. Since 2013, he has focused on fitness, fishing, and sports while managing to fit in running, hiking, rock climbing, and even the occasional mini-triathlon. He can lift more than his body weight with ease and is the person you turn to when you want to know if a NASCAR rain delay means a Monday race. Over his career, Chris has worked at places like Amazon, USA Today, and various rumors and fantasy sports sites. He has been nominated for awards such as the Fantasy Sports Writers Association's Hockey Writer of the Year and has a collection of high-stakes fantasy trophies and rings on display at home. With all this, Chris sums it up best with his motto: "Shut up and play."