The latest chapter in a season of renewed strength and relevance for FC Cincinnati in Major League Soccer is the confirmation of Luciano Acosta the first MLS All-Star in club history.
Acosta, 28, was named to his first MLS All-Star team for this season's 10-assist, six-goal contribution to a surprising FC Cincinnati turnaround that has the club battling for the playoffs.
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The 10 assists matches his output in that category from last season (31 appearances) and is just one goal shy of matching his 2021 output of seven.
Those stats have lodged Acosta firmly in the Most Valuable Player debate as of midseason, but for now he'll claim a permanent place in FC Cincinnati lore as the club's first-ever All-Star.
This year's All-Star game will be staged Aug. 10 in St. Paul, Minnesota at Allianz Field, home of Minnesota United FC.
Like last year, the format of the game will pit the MLS All-Stars against a team of Liga MX All-Stars representing Mexican's top-flight soccer league.
Acosta joins a 26-player roster for the showpiece, midsummer match.
2022 MLS All-Star roster
Goalkeepers (3)
Andre Blake | Philadelphia Union
Sean Johnson | New York City FC
Dayne St. Clair | Minnesota United FC
Defenders (8)
Julián Araujo | LA Galaxy
Alexander Callens | New York City FC
Aaron Long | New York Red Bulls
Kamal Miller | CF Montréal
Diego Palacios | LAFC
Kai Wagner | Philadelphia Union
DeAndre Yedlin | Inter Miami CF
Walker Zimmerman | Nashville SC
Midfielders (7)
Luciano Acosta | FC Cincinnati
Sebastián Driussi | Austin FC
Carles Gil | New England Revolution
Hany Mukhtar | Nashville SC
Darlington Nagbe | Columbus Crew
Emanuel Reynoso | Minnesota United FC
Ilie Sánchez | LAFC
Forwards/Wingers (8)
Paul Arriola | FC Dallas
Valentín “Taty” Castellanos | New York City FC
Jesús Ferreira | FC Dallas
Taxiarchis “Taxi” Fountas | D.C. United
Javier “Chicharito” Hernández | LA Galaxy
Jordan Morris | Seattle Sounders FC
Raúl Ruidíaz | Seattle Sounders FC
Carlos Vela | LAFC
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