Thomas Muller cannot wait to play alongside Son Heung-min for the first time, as the duo prepare to represent MLS against a Liga MX lineup in Wednesday's All-Star Game. 

Both Muller and Son will play in their first All-Star Game this week, with Charlotte FC head coach Dean Smith leading the team at Bank of America Stadium.

Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul will both miss the game following Argentina's run to the World Cup final, leaving Vancouver Whitecaps forward Muller and Los Angeles FC star Son as arguably the two most high-profile players in the MLS group. 

During his 17-year stint with Bayern Munich, Muller went up against Son on several occasions, both when the South Korea captain played in the Bundesliga with Hamburger SV and Bayer Leverkusen, and in the Champions League following his move to Tottenham.

And Muller is excited to finally team up with him, saying: "I was always playing against Sonny in Germany, and also some games in the Champions League against Spurs. 

"He was always a player who was good enough, maybe, to join Bayern, and I could have played with him there. It never worked out. 

"So I can enjoy speaking a little bit of German with him, to exchange our experiences. Maybe it's the most fun to be playing with him."

Muller has won 35 trophies in his glittering career, including the 2014 World Cup and two Champions Leagues, but even with that standing, he is intrigued by the All-Star Game. 

"To be here is special, to see how it is to be in an All-Star Game," Muller said.  

"I think the setup is nice, that we do not compete with each other, but compete with another league.

"It unites us a little bit. We are a team. It's not about West against East, and I think that the concept is good."

The Liga MX All-Stars will be led by Toluca's Antonio Mohamed, the recipient of the 2026 Liga MX Coach of the Year award.

Salomon Rondon, Erik Lira, Israel Reyes, Jesus Gallardo and Omar Campos are among their standout players, as they attempt to win the All-Star Game for the second time, after 2024.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

MLS All-Stars – Son Heung-min

Representing the MLS All-Stars for the first time, Son is one of the most high-profile players in Smith's squad.

Son has three goals and eight assists in MLS this year, with the latter figure being a joint-league-high tally alongside FC Cincinnati's Evander, who is also in the squad. 

Liga MX All-Stars – Salomon Rondon

Venezuela's all-time leading scorer has three goals in two Liga MX outings for Pachuca this campaign, giving him a head start in the Golden Boot race.

Rondon has 43 goals in all competitions since joining Pachuca in December 2023. The only players to outscore him while representing a Mexican club in that time are Paulinho (57 goals for Toluca) and German Berterame (44 goals for Monterrey).

With several other big names – including Mexico's World Cup breakout star Gilberto Mora – missing out, Rondon may carry the visitors' hopes.

MATCH PREDICTION – MLS ALL-STARS WIN

This will be the fifth instance of the MLS All-Stars facing their Liga MX counterparts in this game, with the MLS side holding a 3-1 head-to-head advantage.

Four of the last five editions of the All-Star Game have been comprised of XIs from CONCACAF's top two leagues, with the MLS side winning twice in regulation time and once on penalties (lost 4-1 in 2024). 

The other All-Star Game in that period was a 5-0 loss for the MLS team, against Arsenal in 2023. 

Overall, across all editions of the All-Star Game in which an MLS lineup has faced an invited opponent, the MLS side have a record of 12 wins and 10 defeats.