Michael Boxall

New Zealand international Boxall joined MNUFC on July 12, 2017, after representing his country at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia. As an eight-year veteran, he adds experience and leadership to the backline and has been a key piece of the Minnesota defense since the club’s inaugural season.

Boxall has made 236 appearances across all competitions, the most of any Loon since joining MLS, and has scored seven MLS goals with MNUFC, his most recent goal against Sporting Kansas City in the 2024 MLS regular season on April 27. Where he scored the second fastest goal in club history, one minute and five seconds into the match. On September 19, 2020, ‘Boxy’ surpassed Miguel Ibarra on the club’s all-time appearance list, finishing the 2023 season with 95 career Minnesota appearances. During the 2024 campaign, the MNUFC veteran played his 200th MLS regular season game against Austin FC during the season opener on February 24. Boxy is notably the only Minnesota United player to start and play every minute of any playoff match for Minnesota, totaling nine matches and 840 minutes across the playoffs.

Across MLS, he has made 240 appearances (231 regular-season, nine playoff). In 2024, Boxall played in 32 of the club’s 34 regular-season matches, where he played in his 400th match across professional club and senior team international appearances against Houston Dynamo FC.

Before joining Minnesota United, he first played with the Vancouver Whitecaps after being selected first overall in the 2011 MLS Supplemental Draft ahead of the club’s inaugural MLS season. Boxall’s experience outside of MLS includes seasons played with Wellington Phoenix in the Australian A-League, Central United FC (where he won the 2007 Northern Premier League title), Auckland FC (where he won the New Zealand Football Championship), and SuperSport United of the South African Premier Division. He led the team to back-to-back Nedbank Cup titles.

The 35-year-old and his wife, Libby, split their off season between Minnesota and their home in New Zealand. They have two children: a daughter named Maxwell Milou and a son named Beau Beckham. Like her father, Maxwell is a veteran among the Loon children. She was one of the originators of the postgame tradition at Allianz Field, where players’ children join them on the field to thank fans and score goals in front of the Wonderwall. Since joining Minnesota United, Boxall has worked with and volunteered at the local non-profit organization ACES (Athletes Committed to Educating Students), selecting them as his Man of the Match organization for the past seven seasons and being an e-mentor to several students throughout the years. Additionally, Boxall has his own business and is the founder of Mesa, a wellness company that sells high-quality CBD products for overall health and wellness.

INTERNATIONAL: Boxall has made 52 appearances for the New Zealand National Team since making his debut in 2011. The All White defender celebrated his 50th cap on September 7 against Mexico during an international friendly, where he captained the team in a 0-3 defeat. He has featured in World Cup Qualifying and the 2017 Confederations Cup. He got his first international assist on October 11, 2016, against the United States, tying the game at 1-1 late in the second half.

Notably, Boxall joined the New Zealand U23 Men’s National Team in the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. He was selected as one of New Zealand’s “overage players,” starting and playing in all three fixtures before being eliminated.