At the beginning of the year, Max Arfsten wrote down his goals. Becoming a first-time MLS All-Star was one of them.
In a standout season with the Columbus Crew, which also earned him a Concacaf Gold Cup starting position, Arfsten accomplished that feat. He has recorded four goals and three assists this season.
Arfsten found out he was named an All-Star while on the road with the USMNT. He got a call from Crew captain Darlington Nagbe with the good news. Then, ahead of the Gold Cup knockout rounds, U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino recognized those named to the roster in front of their national team teammates, which included Arfsten along with Diego Luna, Sebastian Berhalter, Alex Freeman, Patrick Agyemang, Miles Robinson and Brian White.
“When I found out, it was a really cool moment for me,” Arfsten said on the U.S. Soccer Podcast. “Just to be able to play with guys at MLS that are going to be there, whether it's [Lionel] Messi, Jordi Alba, just these top players to train with them, even if it's for a little bit ... and obviously to see the Gold Cup guys too — that's going to be super cool.”
The versatile midfielder is one of seven players named to the MLS All-Star team on the Gold Cup roster who took the USMNT to its 13th final. The USA finished second, and the players left the extended experience with special bonds.
“Everyone was super close and cohesive,” Arfsten said. “We just got along really well, and I think that's why we performed well in the Gold Cup and were able to make it to the final just because as a group, we had a lot of good chemistry. And that was my favorite part of it.”
Arfsten had never met Berhalter before going into the June camp. They both became first-time All-Stars and good friends. The same goes for fellow outside back Freeman. The fullback for Orlando City plays in the same conference as Arfsten, but they hadn’t met before and became close over the summer. Now, they will all have a chance to compete together again on the same team.
The MLS side will face the LIGA MX All-Stars in the All-Star Game on July 23 in Austin, Texas (9 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass), the same spot which will host USA-Ecuador, presented by AT&T, on Oct. 10. Arfsten is fresh off competing against top Mexican talent in the Gold Cup Final and is eager to test himself against that level again, no matter the setting.
“I'm excited, man,” Arfsten said. “Even though it’s an All-Star game that doesn't have the same implications as, obviously, the Gold Cup final, anytime I go up against good players, I'm going to try and do my thing. So, it's going to be fun.”
