SANDY, Utah (Monday, June 24, 2019) – Real Salt Lake GK Nick Rimando has been named to the 2019 AT&T MLS All-Star roster by MLS Commissioner Don Garber. Rimando will join the biggest stars in Major League Soccer at the annual summer event for the eighth time, as the MLS All-Stars take on Spanish giants Atlètico Madrid at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida, on July 31.
“I’m honored and, to be honest, very surprised to be selected with the class of this year’s All-Star team. To be selected amongst the quality of goalkeepers that showcased their craft through the first part of the season is very humbling,” Rimando said. “I’m especially grateful to Commissioner Don Garber, who could have chosen any one of the many stars in our league. To get the recognition from him is very meaningful to me. Some say I deserve the recognition, I say thank you. I will represent my club, teammates, family, friends and fans to the best of my ability and will cherish every little bit of my last All-Star game.”
Rimando earned All-Star selections in seven consecutive seasons from 2010-2016. Now in his final season after announcing at the beginning of the season that he would retire after his 20th season in MLS and 13th with Real Salt Lake, he was selected as one of Garber’s two picks for the All-Star team. Rimando, 40, is Major League Soccer’s all-time leader in wins (213), shutouts (146), games played (497) and saves (1662). In addition, he won MLS Cup in 2004 with D.C. United and 2009 with Real Salt Lake, earning MLS Cup MVP honors for Utah’s first professional sports championship.
“For someone who owns virtually every statistical goalkeeping record in MLS History, it’s only logical that Nick is a part of the 2019 MLS All Star Game,” RSL Head Coach Mike Petke said. “From 2000-2019 his body of work speaks for itself.”
The MLS All-Stars will take on Spanish club Atlètico Madrid on July 31 at 6 p.m. MT at Exploria Staduim in Orlando, Florida, in a match that will be televised live on FS1, UniMás, UDN, TSN, and RDS.
The impressive collection of MLS stars will face Atlético Madrid, whose ten La Liga championships rank among the top three in Spain. The iconic club has won 30 trophies across all competitions, including Europa League in 2018, and finished second in La Liga in 2019.
Rimando will be available to local media following Tuesday morning's training session at the Zions Bank Training Center in Herriman, Utah. Training is scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m. MT.
2019 MLS All-Star Game Roster by Position
Goalkeepers:Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union), Brad Guzan (Atlanta United), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
Defenders:Matt Hedges (FC Dallas), Kemar Lawrence (New York Red Bulls), Romain Metanire (Minnesota United FC), Leandro González Pírez (Atlanta United), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Chicago Fire), Walker Zimmerman (Los Angeles Football Club), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
Midfielders:Ezequiel Barco (Atlanta United), Diego Chara (Portland Timbers), Jonathan dos Santos (LA Galaxy), Mark Anthony Kaye (LAFC), Nicolas Lodeiro (Seattle Sounders FC), Gonzalo “Pity” Martínez (Atlanta United), Maxi Moralez (NYCFC), Nani (Orlando City SC), Paxton Pomykal (FC Dallas), Alejandro Pozuelo (Toronto FC) Diego Rossi (LAFC),
Forwards: Zlatan Ibrahimović (LA Galaxy – EA SPORTS™ “More Than a Vote” Challenge), Josef Martinez (Atlanta United), Wayne Rooney (D.C. United), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes) Carlos Vela (Los Angeles Football Club)
^Fan XI selection
*James O'Connor selection
#Commissioner Don Garber selection
Real Salt Lake (6-8-2, 20 points) is seventh in the Western Conference and will meet rival Sporting Kansas City on Saturday at Rio Tinto Stadium for the club’s annual Pride Night. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. MT with tickets available at RSL.com/tickets or by calling 844-REAL-TIX.
