MLS Adds Rodolfo Pizarro, George Bello to Squad for 2021 MLS All-Star Game Presented by Target

Rodolfo Pizarro, Diego Rossi, and Andre Blake added MLS All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T 5G as MLS announces updated roster for the event

Tickets to the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T 5G are available here

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NEW YORK (August 23, 2021) – Major League Soccer today announced the additions of Inter Miami CF midfielder Rodolfo Pizarro and Atlanta United defender George Bello to the roster for the 2021 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target. The updates are made as MLS and LIGA MX share the final rosters for the history-making match set for Wednesday, Aug. 25 (9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, FS1 / Univision / TSN / TVA Sports)

As the best in MLS prepare to take on the best in LIGA MX, Pizarro, as well as Los Angeles Football Club forward Diego Rossi and Philadelphia Union’s heralded goalkeeper Andre Blake have also been added to the roster for the 2021 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T 5G on Tuesday, Aug. 24 (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, FS1 / TUDN / TSN / TVA Sports).  

These updates are made as LA Galaxy’s Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, LAFC’s Carlos Vela, New England’s Carles Gil and New England’s Tajon Buchanan are unavailable for the week of events. While Blake will replace Orlando City SC goalkeeper Pedro Gallese for the Skills Challenge presented by AT&T 5G, Gallese will still be available to participate in the All-Star Game presented by Target.

 The added MLS All-Stars Pizarro and Bello have both been in tremendous form in MLS regular season play as both Inter Miami CF and Atlanta United have begun to find their form in recent weeks. Pizarro tallied a brace in Inter Miami’s 3-1 victory against Toronto FC on Saturday, a second consecutive win for the club, and Atlanta United is unbeaten in their last five matches, including two shutouts.

On the opposing side, additions to LIGA MX’s roster include Santiago “Chaquito” Giménez (Cruz Azul), and Kevin Alvarez (Pachuca CF), who will replace Jesus Gallardo (C.F. Monterrey).

On the eve of the match, the featured eight MLS players competing in the 2021 MLS Skills Challenge presented by AT&T 5G will be Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union, Goalkeeper), Nani (Orlando City SC, Forward), Ricardo Pepi (FC Dallas, Forward), Rodolfo Pizarro (Inter Miami CF, Forward), Diego Rossi (LAFC, Forward), Raúl Ruidíaz (Seattle Sounders FC, Forward), Matt Turner (New England Revolution, Goalkeeper), Lucas Zelarayán (Columbus Crew, Midfielder).

The eight players representing LIGA MX in the skills showcase event will be Rubens Sambueza (Deportivo Toluca F.C, Midfielder), Rogelio Funes Mori (C.F. Monterrey, Forward), Jonathan Rodríguez (Cruz Azul, Forward), Pedro Canelo (Deportivo Toluca F.C., Forward), Diego Valdés (Santos Laguna, Midfielder), Orbelín Pineda (Cruz Azul, Midfielder), Alfredo Talavera (Pumas UNAM, Goalkeeper), and Nahuel Guzmán (Tigres UANL, Goalkeeper).

Rodolfo Pizarro
Pizarro has scored three goals in the two matches leading up to the MLS All-Star Game, including a brace in the team's last match, his first since coming to MLS. Pizarro has registered three goals and two assists thus far in 2021. The 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup, two-time Concacaf Champions League and three-time LIGA MX champion, Mexican international midfielder was signed as the Inter Miami's second Designated Player ever. Pizarro was named to the LIGA MX Best XI for the 2019 Clausura, Concacaf Champions League Best XI in 2018, Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament Best XI in 2015 and 2018 Concacaf Champions League Best Young Player. Pizarro has played 31 times for the Mexican national team, scoring five goals, including playing in this year’s Concacaf Gold Cup.

George Bello
Bello, a 19-year-old left back from Douglasville, Ga., signed as a Homegrown Player with Atlanta United on June 17, 2017 with the deal becoming effective Jan. 1, 2018. He started the 2018 season with Atlanta United 2 and was brought up to the first team later in the campaign and made his MLS debut on Sept. 2, 2018 vs. D.C. United. He earned his first start Sept. 22, 2018 against Real Salt Lake and scored his first career goal against the New England Revolution on Oct. 6, 2018, becoming the sixth-youngest goal scorer in league history. Bello had a breakout season in 2020, starting a career-high 19 of his 20 MLS appearances at left back, was the second-youngest player to play at least 1,000 MLS minutes in 2020. In 2021, Bello has started 15 of his 16 MLS appearances and recorded two assists, in addition to starting all four of Atlanta’s Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League matches. Born in Abuja, Nigeria, Bello moved to Douglasville, Ga., at a young age and joined the Atlanta United Academy in 2016. Bello has spent his entire playing career on the U.S. nyouth National circuit and made his senior team debut with the USMNT in a friendly vs. Trinidad and Tobago on Jan. 31, 2021. Most recently, Bello started two matches during the USMNT’s run to the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup title.

The two-hour event will occur at Banc of California Stadium on Tuesday, August 24. A team of eight MLS players will battle eight of LIGA MX’s best in five different challenges. More details on the Skills Challenge and Tickets for the event are available here

The full media schedule for the 2021 MLS All-Star Game is available here

More information on the MLS All-Star Game presented by Target is available at MLSsoccer.com/AllStar.

2021 MLS All-Star Game Rosters

Major League Soccer

Last Name

First Name

Club

Position

Araujo

Julian

LA Galaxy

RB

Atuesta

Eduard

Los Angeles Football Club

DM

Bello

George

Atlanta United

LB

Blake

Andre

Philadelphia Union

GK

Bou

Gustavo

New England Revolution

W

Cowell

Cade

San Jose Earthquakes

FW

Gallese

Pedro

Orlando City SC

GK

Gomez Andrade

Yeimar

Seattle Sounders FC

CB

Kreilach

Damir

Real Salt Lake

CM

Murillo

Jesus

Los Angeles Football Club

CB

Nani

Orlando City SC

W

Nouhou

Seattle Sounders FC

LB

Paulo

João

Seattle Sounders FC

DM

Pepi

Ricardo

FC Dallas

FW

Reynoso

Emanuel

Minnesota United FC

AM

Pizarro

Rodolfo

Inter Miami CF

AM

Robinson

Miles

Atlanta United

CB

Roldan

Alex

Seattle Sounders FC

RB

Roldan

Cristian

Seattle Sounders FC

CM

Rossi

Diego

Los Angeles Football Club

W

Ruidíaz

Raúl

Seattle Sounders FC

FW

Salloi

Daniel

Sporting Kansas City

W

Sands

James

New York City FC

CB

Turner

Matt

New England Revolution

GK

Wagner

Kai

Philadelphia Union

LB

Zelarayan

Lucas

Columbus Crew

AM

Zimmerman

Walker

Nashville SC

CB

LIGA MX Roster

Last Name

First Name

Club

Position

Talavera

Alfredo

Universidad Nacional

GK

Ochoa

Guillermo

Club América

GK

Guzmán

Nahuel

Tigres

GK

Doria

Matheus

Santos Laguna

DF

Aguilar

Pablo

Cruz Azul

DF

Guzmán

Víctor

Club Tijuana

DF

Montes

César

Rayados

DF

Tesillo

William

León

DF

Reyes

Salvador

Club América

FB

Escobar

Juan Marcelo

Cruz Azul

FB

Álvarez

Kevin

Pachuca

FB

Sánchez

Jorge

Club América

FB

Romo

Luis

Cruz Azul

MF

Gorriarán

Fernando

Santos Laguna

MF

Sambueza

Rubens

Toluca

MF

Salas

Javier

Puebla

MF

Aquino

Pedro

Club América

MF

Valdés

Diego

Santos Laguna

MF

Mena

Ángel

León

MF

Pineda

Orbelín

Cruz Azul

MF

Lira

Erik

Pumas

MF

Rodríguez

Jonathan

Cruz Azul

FW

Canelo

Pedro

Toluca

FW

Ibáñez

Nicolás

Pachuca

FW

Giménez

Santiago

Cruz Azul 

FW

Funes Mori

Rogelio

Rayados

FW

Vega

Alexis

Chivas

FW

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ABOUT MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
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Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer features 27 clubs throughout the United States and Canada, in addition to future expansion teams in St. Louis and Charlotte. For more information about MLS, visit www.MLSsoccer.com.