Image: FC Dallas Twitter
08/24/2021
All-Star week is here! Tomorrow the All-Stars of Major League Soccer will face off against the All-Stars of Mexico's Liga MX. This year FC Dallas has one player on the MLS roster, young Ricardo Pepi. After showing flashes of his skill in 2020, Pepi is in the midst of a breakout season. He is Dallas' top scorer with 9 goals, the second top scorer spot is currently shared by Franco Jara and Jader Obrian who both have 3.
In addition to leading Dallas in scoring, Pepi also gained noticed after becoming to youngest player in MLS to score a hattrick. In their late July match against the L.A Galaxy. Pepi broke Dallas' three game winless streak and kicked off their four game unbeaten run by leading them to a 4-0 victory against the Galaxy.
To celebrate Pepi's inclusion and the return of an All-Star game after it was unfortunately was cancelled last year, this article will provide a list of every FC Dallas player that was named an All-Star. In their 26 years of existance (only 25 playable years), Dallas has only had three years that they did not have a player named an All-Star. Now time for a look at Dallas history.
Western Conference vs Eastern Conference
Leonel Alvarez
Jason Kreis
Mark Dodd
Diego Sonora
Mark Santel
In first season with the Dallas Burn (their former name until they rebranded as FC Dallas for the 2005 season to present) Kreis scored 13 goals and tallied 9 assists. (https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/jason-kreis/stats/)
Leonel Alvarez, according to those in media who have followed Dallas since their early years, was the first leader for the franchise. He is said to have taught those in the organization what it meant to be a professional, among other aspects. (https://3rddegree.net/fc-dallas-25th-season-top-5-all-time-rankings-best-player)
Mark Dodd had 6 cleans in his first season with the Burn. (https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/mark-dodd/stats/)
Western Conference vs Eastern Conference
Mark Dodd
Diego Sonora
Alain Sutter
Mark Santel
Dante Washington
Washington had 12 goals and 6 assists that season.
MLS USA vs USA World
USA- None
World- Leonel Alvarez
Western Conference vs Eastern Conference
Matt Jordan
Jason Kreis
Kreis had his best season in 1999. He scored 18 goals and tallied 15 assists, it was both his highest scoring season and the most assists he had in a single season. (https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/jason-kreis/stats/)
Western Conference vs Eastern Conference
Jason Kreis
Ariel Graziani
Graziani scored 15 goals that season, his highest tally in a single season. (https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/ariel-graziani/stats/)
Western Conference vs Eastern Conference
Chad Deering
Ariel Graziani
MLS vs USMNT
Ryan Suarez
Joselito
Jason Kreis
USMNT
Chad Deering
MLS vs C.D Guadalajara
None
Western Conference vs Eastern Conference
Cory Gibbs
Ronnie O'Brien
Jason Kreis
MLS vs Fulham
Greg Vanney
Ronnie O'Brien
Simo Valakari
Christian Gomez
Scott Garlick
MLS vs Chelsea
Richard Mulrooney
MLS vs Celtic
Juan Toja
MLS vs West Ham United
Juan Toja
Kenny Cooper (Cooper scored 18 goals in 2008) (https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/kenny-cooper/stats/)
MLS vs Everton
None
MLS vs Manchester United
Heath Pearce
David Ferreira
2010 featured one of Dallas' strongest rosters. David Ferreira, in addition to becoming a MLS All-Star, earned the MLS MVP reward. He scored 8 goals, tallied 13, and led Dallas to their first (and so far only) appearance in an MLS Cup. He scored Dallas' only goal in the eventual 2-1 loss that saw the Colorado Rapids win the Cup. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Ferreira)
MLS vs Manchester United
Brek Shea
Shea did not play in the All-Star game as Dallas was in the midst of their CONCACAF Champions League campaign and had a game scheduled for that same week. Shea scored 11 goals and tallied 4 assists, that season was his breakout year and at the moment his most successful in MLS. (https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/brek-shea/stats/)
MLS vs Chelsea
Brek Shea
Shea was named to the inactive roster. He was voted to be an All-Star by other players in the league.
MLS vs Roma
Raul Fernandez
MLS vs Bayern Munich
None
MLS vs Tottenham
Fabian Castillo
Castillo scored 9 goals and tallied 9 assists in 2015. It was second highest scoring season, in 2014 he scored 10 goals but only recorded 4 assists. (https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/fabian-castillo/stats/)
Image: FC Dallas Facebook
MLS vs Arsenal
Mauro Diaz
Kellyn Acosta
Despite being named as "MLS Defender of the Year" and being named to the "MLS Best XI" alongside teammate Diaz, Matt Hedges was NOT named as an MLS All-Star that year. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_FC_Dallas_season)
2016 was Dallas' most successful year. They won a double with the MLS Open Cup and the Supporter's Shield. Aocsta was the first Dallas homegrown player to be named as an All-Star. Diaz recored 13 assists that season. (https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/mauro-diaz/stats/)
MLS vs Real Madrid
Hernan Grana
Matt Hedges
Kellyn Acosta
MLS vs Juventus
Matt Hedges
MLS vs Atletico Madrid
Matt Hedges
Paxton Pomykal
Pomykal earned his first All-Star honor. He became only the second Dallas homegrown to be named to the MLS All-Stars.
2020-
The 2020 All-Star game was cancelled due to Covid19.
MLS All-Stars vs Liga MX All-Stars
The 2021 season is still ongoing. Pepi was the lone Dallas player to make the All-Star roster. At the moment he has 9 goals in MLS. Hedges' three year All-Star streak was officially ended, he has just returned from an injury that sidelined him for most of the year. (https://thestrikertexas.com/2021/07/21/matt-hedges-injury)
The 2021 MLS All-Star game is set to be played tomorrow night at 9:30PM ET/ 6:30PM PT in Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, California. (https://www.mlssoccer.com/all-star/2021/)
The match should give fans and Pepi a glance at where he stands against the best of Liga MX. As he becomes more noticeable in MLS, it will also give potential clubs interested in Pepi a look at how he performs against the best of another league.
By Toros95
Twitter: Toros95