FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Wilfried Zahibo and the rest of the MLS All-Stars have spent the past two days training in Atlanta, and tonight they’ll take the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium to battle Italian juggernaut Juventus in the 2018 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target (7:30 p.m., ESPN).
Zahibo is the New England Revolution’s first representative at the All-Star Game since 2016, when Andrew Farrell suited up against English power Arsenal at San Jose’s Avaya Stadium.
A newcomer to MLS this year, Zahibo has notched three goals and four assists while appearing in 20 of the Revolution’s 21 games this season. He was selected to the All-Star squad by Atlanta United FC and MLS All-Star head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino.
“[My] excitement level is top,” Zahibo said when he was named an All-Star in late June. “I’m very, very happy. I didn’t expect this, but when [Brad Friedel] told me the news, I was very grateful.”
More than 70,000 tickets have been sold for tonight’s match, which pits the best of MLS against Juventus, Serie A champions for seven consecutive seasons. Should more than 72,250 fans attend the match, it would make tonight’s game the second-biggest all-star crowd in American sports history.
That’s a prospect that excites Zahibo, who hasn’t yet played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, as the Revs will make their annual visit to the venue on October 6.
“I [haven’t] played in Atlanta, but I’ve seen a lot of games,” Zahibo said. “I know the stadium and the fans are very crazy. I’m very excited.”
