Fans can make history when it comes to voting for midfielders ahead of the 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game against European champions Chelsea. Voting opens Friday.
LA Galaxy star Landon Donovan is on the list of 40 midfielders up for vote as released by MLS on Thursday and if he's elected to the 2012 edition of the mid-summer showcase, he would set a new all-time mark with his 12th All-Star selection. He's currently tied with former D.C. United great Eddie Pope on 11.
But Donovan is one of a number of popular MLS midfield stars on the ballot as determined by the media. Reigning MLS MVP Dwayne De Rosario, who scored the All-Stars' game-winner against Chelsea back in 2006, is sure to get plenty of love as will the LA Galaxy's David Beckham, perennial Revolution All-Star Shalrie Joseph, Philadelphia's Freddy Adu and US national team standouts Brek Shea, Kyle Beckerman and Graham Zusi.
A handful of players are seeking their first ever MLS All-Star selection: rookie Nick DeLeon and his D.C. United teammate Perry Kitchen, San Jose's up-and-comer Rafael Baca, Toronto FC Designated Player Torsten Frings and Ecuadorean national team newcomer Oswaldo Minda of Chivas USA.
MLS ALL-STAR MIDFIELD CANDIDATES (40):
CHICAGO FIRE (3): Sebastián Grazzini, Marco Pappa, Pável Pardo
CHIVAS USA (2): Nick LaBrocca, Oswaldo Minda
COLORADO RAPIDS (3): Jaime Castrillón, Jeff Larentowicz, Martín Rivero
COLUMBUS CREW (2): Eddie Gaven, Milovan Mirosevic
D.C. UNITED (4): Dwayne De Rosario, Nick DeLeon, Perry Kitchen, Chris Pontius
FC DALLAS (2): Brek Shea, Daniel Hernandez
HOUSTON DYNAMO (1): Brad Davis
SPORTING KANSAS CITY (2): Roger Espinoza, Graham Zusi
LA GALAXY (3): David Beckham, Landon Donovan, Juninho
MONTREAL IMPACT (2): Davy Arnaud, Felipe Martins
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION (3): Benny Feilhaber, Shalrie Joseph, Lee Nguyen
NEW YORK RED BULLS (2): Joel Lindpere, Dane Richards
PHILADELPHIA UNION (2): Freddy Adu, Gabriel Gómez
PORTLAND TIMBERS (2): Diego Chara, Jack Jewsbury
REAL SALT LAKE (1): Kyle Beckerman
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES (2): Marvin Chávez, Rafael Baca
SEATTLE SOUNDERS (2): Osvaldo Alonso, Mauro Rosales
TORONTO FC (1): Torsten Frings
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (1): Davide Chiumiento
