Diego Luna isn’t going to the Olympics.
But he is getting a star-studded consolation prize.
Real Salt Lake’s dynamic midfielder has been added to Major League Soccer’s All-Star roster and will join RSL defender Justen Glad when the league’s best take on the Liga MX squad next week.
Luna will replace RSL striker Chicho Arango, who was suspended last week for four matches, including the All-Star game, for an undisclosed violation of the league’s anti-harassment policy.
Luna has scored five goals and recorded 12 assists for RSL this season.
Given his performance, many thought the 20-year-old would be a lock to join Team USA in Paris for the Summer Olympics. But after being left off the roster, Luna has had a strong response on the field, helping secure his All-Star status.
“It’s the same disappointment when you get news that you don’t want to hear; everybody deals with it every day,” Luna said in the wake of his Olympic snub. “It’s just that same feeling, maybe to a different extreme. But it’s all about how we react to that situation.”
“He’s a player that plays with a chip on his shoulder,” RSL coach Pablo Mastroeni added.
Luna and Glad will be the first RSL players to play Major League Soccer’s midseason showcase since Dami Kreilach in 2021. It will be the first time RSL has had two players in the game since Nick Rimando and Tony Beltran were selected in 2015.
The MLS-Liga MX All-Star Game will take place July 24 in Columbus, Ohio. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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