Nashville SC Designated Players Walker Zimmerman and Hany Mukhtar were selected to the 2022 MLS All-Star team, the team and league announced Wednesday. Zimmerman was voted to the All-Star team in 2021, while Mukhtar was a surprising snub. Mukhtar went on to finish second in the league MVP voting.
“The selections for Walker and Hany are well-deserved, and we are so proud of them,” said Nashville SC General Manager Mike Jacobs. “They continue to demonstrate that they are among the elite players in Major League Soccer, and this selection only continues to validate and affirm that. They are both tremendous ambassadors for Nashville Soccer Club and MLS, and are worthy recipients of this opportunity.”
Mukhtar’s 15 goal contributions are the second-most in MLS, and his 10 goals are fourth in the Golden Boot race. With 16 games left to play, it’s likely that he’ll surpass his 16 goal mark from 2021. He was selected as a coach’s pick.
“It feels amazing to be selected, and I’m happy to be on the team,” Mukhtar said in the press release. “I want to thank my teammates and the coaching staff for their support in getting me here. I’m looking forward to being in Minnesota representing Nashville. It shows all of our hard work here at the club and that our players have been doing a good job these past three years. I’m very happy to be part of it.”
Zimmerman’s selection is the third of his MLS career. After becoming the first All-Star in Nashville’s history, Zimmerman went on to play a significant role for the US Men’s National Team in World Cup qualifying and was named 2021 MLS Defender of the Year.
“I’m really excited to be a part of the all-star game again,” said Zimmerman via the press release. “It’s a special accomplishment that you always strive for each and every season. I’m really happy for Hany to get involved after last year probably deserving the honor, it didn’t quite go his way. Credit to a lot of our teammates for putting us in good positions and helping us stand out enough to be selected for this game. I’m excited to represent Nashville and looking forward to the game.”
The MLS All-Star team will take on the best of Liga MX on August 10 at Minnesota United’s Allianz Field.
2022 MLS All-Star Team
Goalkeepers
- Andre Blake – Philadelphia Union – voted in
- Sean Johnson – New York City FC – commissioner’s pick
- Dayne St. Clair – Minnesota United – coach’s pick
Defenders
- Julián Araujo – LA Galaxy – voted in
- Alexander Callens – New York City FC – voted in
- Aaron Long – New York Red Bulls – coach’s pick
- Kamal Miller – CF Montréal – commissioner’s pick
- Diego Palacios – Los Angeles FC – coach’s pick
- Kai Wagner – Philadelphia Union – voted in
- DeAndre Yedlin – Inter Miami CF – coach’s pick
- Walker Zimmerman – Nashville SC – voted in
Midfielders
- Luciano Acosta – FC Cincinnati – coach’s pick
- Sebastián Driussi – Austin FC – voted in
- Carles Gil – New England Revolution – voted in
- Hany Mukhtar – Nashville SC – coach’s pick
- Darlington Nagbe – Columbus Crew – coach’s pick
- Emanuel Reynoso – Minnesota United FC – coach’s pick
- Ilie Sánchez – Los Angeles FC – voted in
Forwards
- Paul Arriola – FC Dallas – voted in
- Taty Castellanos – New York City FC – voted in
- Jesús Ferreira – FC Dallas – voted in
- Taxi Fountas – DC United – coach’s pick
- Chicharito Hernández – LA Galaxy – coach’s pick
- Jordan Morris – Seattle Sounders – coach’s pick
- Raúl Ruidíaz – Seattle Sounders – voted in
- Carlos Vela – Los Angeles FC – coach’s pick
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