AUSTIN, Texas (July 23, 2025) – Chicago Fire FC winger Philip Zinckernagel and the MLS All-Star defeated the Liga MX All-Stars 3-1 in the 2025 MLS All-Star Game Wednesday night at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas. Zinckernagel assisted Vancouver Whitecaps FC forward Brian White in the MLS All-Stars’ third goal, which followed goals by Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge and Philadelphia Union’s Tai Baribo.
The MLS All-Stars took a 1-0 lead before the half hour when Denis Bouanga forced a save from Liga MX and Club América goalkeeper Luis Angel Malagón. The LAFC forward collected his own rebound before crossing to the top of the six-yard box, where Surridge leapt for the open header and MLS lead.
After a flurry of changes at halftime from both sides, Baribo doubled the lead for MLS when he received a pass behind the backline from Columbus Crew winger Diego Rossi in the 51st minute. The Liga MX All-Stars answered back, with Mexican international Giberto Mora knocking one in from inside the box that would keep the match at arm’s length for the visitors.
With 10 minutes left in regulation time, New England Revolution midfielder Carles Gil came away with the ball at the midfield before playing the ball to the left wing to San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Cristian Espinoza. He played it into the box to Zinckernagel, who deftly tapped a ball past a sliding defender that White knocked into the goal to clinch the match for the MLS All-Stars.
Notes:
- Philip Zinckernagel recorded the first goal contribution by a Fire player in an MLS All-Star Game since the Club’s first Designated Player, midfielder Cuauhtémoc Blanco, scored in the 45th minute of the 2008 MLS All-Star Game against West Ham United.
- Zinckernagel recorded the first assist for a Fire player at an All-Star Game since Blanco in the 2008 game. Before that, defender Carlos Bocanegra assisted LA Galaxy’s Carlos Ruiz game-winning goal in the 68th minute of the 2003 MLS All-Star Game against CD Guadalajara.
- The Danish winger was the 32nd Fire player to be named to an All-Star Game in the competition’s history. Upon entering the match in the 61st minute, Zinckernagel became the 29th Chicago player to take the field. Three players – goalkeeper Jon Busch, defender Gonzalo Segares and midfielder Justin Mapp – never saw the field in their lone All-Star Game nod with the Fire.
- Club Tijuana midfielder Gilberto Mora – who recently saw considerable minutes with the Mexican National Team at the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup – became the youngest player to ever score in an MLS All-Star Game at just 16 years of age.
- Wednesday’s MLS All-Star Game was the second held in the state of Texas in league history. The 2010 edition was held in Houston’s Reliant Stadium on July 28 and featured the MLS All-Stars against European giants Manchester United. Midfielder Marco Pappa and defender Wilman Conde represented the Fire in the match, which the Red Devils won 5-2 against the league’s best.
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Box Score:
MLS All-Stars 3:1 Liga MX All-Stars
Goals:
MLS - Surridge (1) (Bouanga 1) (WATCH) 28’
MLS - Baribo (1) (Rossi 1) (WATCH) 51’
LMX - Mora (1) (WATCH) 64’
MLS - White (1) (Zinckernagel 1, Espinoza 1) (WATCH) 80’
Discipline:
None
MLS All-Stars: GK Stuver (St. Clair 34’; Takaoka 61’), D Nájar (Tverskov 34’; Vargas 61’), D Boxall (Robinson 46’), D Blackmon (Glesnes 34’), D Wagner (Arfsten 46’; Biro 76’), M Berhalter (Espinoza 46’), M Dreyer (Mukhtar 34’; Gil 61’), M Evander (capt.) (Luna, 46’), F Lozano (Rossi 34’; Zinckernagel 61’), F Surridge (Baribo 34’; White 61’), F Bouanga (Pašalić 34’; Freeman 61’)
Subs not used: None
Liga MX All-Stars: GK Malagón (Mier 46’), D Reyes (Ferrareis 46’), D Ramos (capt.) (Pereira 46’), D Garcia (Ditta 46’), D Gallardo (Aceves 46’), M Dourado (Castañeda 46’; Bautista 76’), M Palavecino (Montiel 46’), M Canales (Mora 46’), F Brunetta (Zendejas 46’), F Sepúleda (Cambindo 46’), F Alvarado (Rodríguez 46’)
Subs not used: None
Stats Summary: MLS / LMX
Shots: 13 / 24
Shots on Goal: 8 / 7
Saves: 6 / 4
Passing Accuracy: 88.2% / 92.3%
Corners: 7 / 8
Fouls: 11 / 15
Offsides: 4 / 2
Referee: Rosendo Mendoza
Assistant Referees: Jeremy Kieso, Ryan Graves
Fourth Official: Filip Dujic
VAR: Carol Anne Chenard
AVAR: Craig Lowry
