Since entering MLS midway through the 2016 season, Seattle Sounders midfielder Nicolás Lodeiro has been one of the top creative playmakers in the league. Through 91 regular season appearances, the midfield maestro has racked up an eye-popping 23 goals and 45 assists.
In recognition of his stellar play and remarkable consistency, Lodeiro was selected by head coach James O’Connor for the 2019 MLS All-Star Game in Orlando, Fla., on Wednesday (5:00 p.m. PT; FS1, UniMás), where he’ll take on perennial La Liga and UEFA Champions League contenders Atlético Madrid.
“I feel happy,” said Lodeiro, who will participate in an All-Star Game for the first time. “I feel excited. It’s a new experience for me. I want to enjoy this game. I want to get to know my new teammates [and] the new players. Everything is good for me.”
Performing day-in, day-out at the level of a player like Lodeiro, who has four goals and nine assists from 18 starts in 2019, requires deep-seeded intrinsic motivation. It takes an elite internal drive to raise the standard in every training session and every match.
So, it’s no surprise that receiving an invitation to the league’s marquee celebration of MLS’s star players has been an objective of Lodeiro’s for years.
“This is one of my goals when I play for Sounders,” he said. “I want to [win] the MLS Cup, Open Cup [and] every game, and also to play in MLS All-Star Game.
“Also, it’s important for me because the coach chose me,” he added. “This is good motivation for me and the next season. It’s a good sign because I’ve worked very hard this season for my team.”
For Seattle Sounders Head Coach Brian Schmetzer, Lodeiro’s inclusion in the All-Star Game is both a deserved recognition for his accomplishments in Seattle and an opportunity to test himself against one of the top teams in the world.
“It’s good,” said Schmetzer. “It shows that Nico is at a high level. It should be an entertaining game. They’re playing against a very good opponent. We’ll see what the MLS guys can do.”
The Sounders will return to action on Sunday as they host Sporting Kansas City in a Western Conference clash at CenturyLink Stadium (7:00 p.m. PT; FS1, YouTube TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360AM | TICKETS).
