What are the five different challenges in the 2024 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge?

The MLS All-Star Game will take place at Lower.com Field in Columbus on Wednesday, July 24, with the league’s top players coming up against a Liga MX All-Star team. The match is the culmination of several days of events put on by the MLS in the capital of Ohio, which includes the All-Star Skills Challenge the previous day, Tuesday, July 23.

Will Lionel Messi take part in the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge and MLS All-Star game?

Inter Miami star Lionel Messi was supposed to be the star attraction of MLS All-Star week. He wasn’t down to take part in the Skills Challenge but it now looks certain he will also be out of the All-Star Game after suffering an ankle injury in Argentina’s Copa América 2024 final win over Colombia.

The 37-year-old has been forced to sit out The Herons’ last two MLS matches and looks likely to spend more time on the sidelines. It would be a huge surprise to see him risked in an exhibition game, however lucrative.

Which players will compete in the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge?

For the Skills Challenge, both the MLS and Liga MX All-Stars will have 12 players on their rosters, comprising 10 current players, one MLS/Liga MX ‘Great’ and one NWSL/Liga MX Femenil player.

MLS All-Star roster

Liga MX All-Star roster

What are the challenge in the 2024 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge?

There are five official challenges for the two rosters to take part in, along with an additional one for MLS NEXT Pro goalkeepers.

MLS All-Star Shooting challenge

Players: 3 per team

Time: 6 minutes in total (3 rounds of 60 seconds per team)

How does it work?: Players aim to hit as many of the 12 targets as possible in the allocated time to score points for their team. There are 11 fixed targets with different points values, and a moving target in the last 20 seconds. If every target is hit, the round ends before the allotted time. Players can hit the moving target as many times as they want/can. The team that amasses the most points wins.

MLS All-Star Touch challenge

Players: 8 per team, 4 per round (2 passers, 2 receivers)

Time: 6 minutes in total (2 rounds of 90 seconds per team)

How does it work?: Players must control a high pass and and then volley the ball into different valued targets on a skeeball scoring apparatus, without letting the ball touch the ground. Five passes will be played by teammates, and another five from a launcher using an orange ball. Points scored using the orange ball are worth double. The team that amasses the most points wins.

MLS All-Star Cross and Volley challenge

Players: 8 per team, 4 per round (2 passers, 1 shooter, 1 opposing goalkeeper)

Time: 4 minutes in total (2 rounds of 60 seconds per team)

How does it work?: Players must convert crosses from their teammates, alternating from left and right. Different points are available for scoring a goal in different ways (20 points for a bicycle or scissor kick, 15 points for a one-touch finish, 10 points for a two-touch finish (the ball can’t hit the ground), 5 points for half volley. The team that amasses the most points wins.

MLS All-Star Passing challenge

Players: 3 per team, 2 competing head-to-head per round

Time: 3 minutes in total (3 rounds of 60 seconds per team)

How does it work?: Players have to hit four targets on their side of the halfway line, and finish off by hitting a common target in the middle. The first to do that wins, or the player who hits the most targets in the allocated time. The team that wins two of the three rounds wins.

MLS All-Star Crossbar challenge

Players: 7 per team, including all 4 goalkeepers

Time: 2-6 minutes in total (one round with both teams comPeting at the same time)

How does it work?: In the last challenge, the score from the previous four challenges comes into play. Three players from each team attempt to hit the crossbar from Zone 1 (the edge of the penalty box), earning a point if they do so. That will be added to their team’s overall tally for the whole event. Once a team reached five points, they can take on the ‘Victory Shot’ from Zone 2 (the halfway line). The first team to hit the crossbar from there wins the event.

In addition to the five official challenges, MLS NEXT Pro goalkeepers take part in Goalie Wars, in which they have to score goals against one another by throwing or kicking the ball past their opponent and into the net from either side of the halfway line.

This event doesn’t count towards the overall score in the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge but has become a huge favourite with fans due to its fast-paced nature.