MLS Next All-Star Game’s Best Players: Eastern Team

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eastern team played two amazing halves with two different XIs in each. They were electric in the entire first half, finishing with a resounding 5-0. Of course, unlike the Western team, they had many more players who stood out. Just like the <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2026/07/mls-next-all-star-games-best-players-western-team/" data-type="link" data-id="https://prepsoccer.com/2026/07/mls-next-all-star-games-best-players-western-team/">last article</a>, this one will be divided into the best players in both halves. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">First Half</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As mentioned, the first half finished 5-0 in their favor. The number of players that impressed was in itself impressive. Two definitely stood out even more than the rest, though that's not to say the others didn't pull their weight.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["280092"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a693c75b6e68"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Christopher played an astounding match. The flair he put on display was nothing short of dazzling. He created plenty of chances the entire time he was on the pitch. By the end of the half, he finished with three assists, including a wonderful backheel inside the box. He constantly looked to play balls forward. Though some of his passes weren't accurate, they still showed his insistence on progressing plays. The front three feasted on his chances, and feasted with him in combination plays. His agility in tight spaces proved that he's a natural, technical talent. He didn't win the MVP award, but he was a serious contender for it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["279944"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a693c75b6ef8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The MVP of the match, Oscar put on a brilliant show. He played as a left winger, but sometimes found himself on the right or centrally. The true brilliance came from the left flank, where he got 2 goals and an assist. Each goal contribution was better than the last. He constantly took the ball to the right back in charge of defending him. The defender was overwhelmingly overpowered by the shifty feet and agile movements he showed. His combinations with the midfield and attack made the attack incredibly fluid. The assist he got was a precise work of art, subtly lobbing the ball to the head of the scorer. He constantly looked for the ball, whether his team had possession or not. Even though it didn't happen to often, any opposing attack that started on his flank, he tracked back to win the ball back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Honorable Mentions</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jamil Danjaji</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Liam Stribling</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marcellus Singleton II</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Levi Williams</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Second Half</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The more even second half saw a strong performance from the team. They finished the half with a 1-1 score, but perhaps deserved more.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["332693"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a693c75b6f72"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Daniel was the best offensive player in the second half. He crowned his performance with a spectacular goal from well outside the box. Whenever he got the ball, he spearheaded attacks from the right flank. He played from the right, but more centrally than Stribling did in the first half. His possessions were progressive, especially when he played passes. The passes he played were phenomenal. Precise and incisive, they pierced the defense whenever he connected them. He created a chance from far out with a fantastic through ball before getting his goal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["279928"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a693c75b6fdf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Dominick was tasked with defending Benjamin Flores in the second half and passed the test with flying colors. The only times Flores could do something it was when he was far from Dominick. His tackles were constantly clean and precise. He knew exactly where to move to neutralize any attack that came from his flank. When he needed to come in centrally to help the defense, he continued his fantastic performance. In attack, he combined well with Daniel. Whether getting the ball to him from deep or overlapping, he helped kickstart a few decent attacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Honorable Mentions</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sammy Gallego</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Abdoulaye Diop</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Amadou Han</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Connor Dale</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->