NEW YORK — Canadian soccer fans may see a pair of familiar faces leading Major League Soccer’s attack as its All-Star XI face England’s Arsenal on July 28 in a showcase match.
Toronto FC star Sebastian Giovinco and Montreal Impact forward Didier Drogba were voted as two of the forwards for the MLS all-stars at the exhibition in San Jose, Calif.
Impact defender Laurent Ciman was also named to the fan-selected team, while the Vancouver Whitecaps have no representatives.
The official all-star game day roster will be announced on July 17 and include the two commissioner’s picks as well as 20 players selected by all-star team head coach Dominic Kinnear of the San Jose Earthquakes. While the players named to the Fan XI are not guaranteed a spot on the game day roster, the outcome of fan voting is taken into consideration as the 22-man roster is decided.
Giovinco is currently in his second season with Toronto FC. The reigning MVP and Golden Boot winner has made 19 appearances for Toronto FC in 2016, registering a total of nine goals and six assists in MLS and the Canadian Championship.
This marks the second consecutive year that Giovinco has been named to the MLS all-star game. He did not play in the 2015 exhibition due to an injury.
Drogba earned his first MLS all-star nomination with five goals and five assists in 10 games this season.
Ciman started all 12 Impact games before joining the Belgian National Team for Euro 2016, where he became the first MLS player to reach the quarter-final round
It will be Ciman’s second straight appearance in the MLS all-star game.
