Philadelphia Union forward Tai Baribo not only became the first member of the club to score in the league's biggest spectacle but earned MVP honors on Wednesday night at the 2025 MLS All-Star Game
Baribo helped MLS avenge their All-Star Game loss last year with the game-winning goal in the 51st minute finishing off a pass from Columbus Crew's Diego Rossi via a smooth finish from inside the 18. With the goal, Baribo became the first Union player to score in a MLS All-Star Game and with it came MVP honors courtesy of the classy finish.
After learning following the club's 1-1 draw at the Houston Dynamo on Saturday that he had been added to the All-Star Game roster, Kai Wagner was in the starting lineup. The start marked the German left back's first as a member of the roster, with the honor coming in his third appearance. Wagner joins Jakob Glesnes (2023), Jose Martinez (2023), Andre Blake (2016 and 2022), Keegan Rosenberry (2016) and Faryd Mondragon (2011) as the only players from the club to start the league's biggest match.
With Wagner in the starting lineup, a massive roster swap just past the half hour mark saw all three members of the Union on the pitch at the same time with Baribo replacing goalscorer Sam Surridge and Glesnes in for Tristan Blackmon. Glesnes would play the remainder of the match while Wagner would be subbed off at half time and Baribo taken off just past the hour mark.
Philadelphia Union returns to action with another Western Conference foe as they host the Colorado Rapids on Saturday, July 26th. Tickets for the match at Subaru Park can be purchased online by clicking here.
