It's been a special stretch on the pitch for Philadelphia Union striker Tai Baribo, and it just keeps getting better. Just over one year after scoring his first goal for the club -- 399 days later, to be exact, he scored in the 2025 MLS All-Star game, earning MVP honors among world-class peers from both MLS and Liga MX.
Upon his return to Philadelphia, the 27-year-old Israeli reflected on the experience and what the recognition from not only the league, but his teammates and fans, means to him.
How are you feeling?
I feel amazing, actually. It was my first experience in the All-Star. We won. I scored. I was named the MVP. I mean, it's an amazing feeling.
You were in pretty good company over in Austin. There were a lot of really top-class players there with you. What was it like for you to be named MVP among that level of talent?
It's a big honor for me. Of course, there are a lot of amazing players there. Actually, even when I got called to play with them, I was excited. When I was named the MVP...again it's an amazing feeling. It's difficult to describe it in words.
When you think about this week, in comparison to where you were one year ago, just breaking onto the Major League Soccer scene. Is that hard to wrap your head around?
I mean, of course. I had some tough times, but God can do everything. You can see everything is from God.
What was your favorite part of the week?
Being named the MVP, of course.
You said heading down there that you weren't quite sure what to expect. You end up playing alongside guys like Diego Rossi and Hany Muhktar. How easy was it to build that chemistry on the field that creates the kind of goal you scored?
First of all, it's difficult to play in the All-Star. I didn't realize that. I don't know them at all. Of course, I know them as an opponent, but you don't know their movement, how they like to give the pass. So, at the start, it was really, really difficult.
A couple of the first balls, I didn't realize that they wanted to give me in this way, for example. But then I had good, good actions with Hany and also with Rossi. Obviously, on the goal, he gave me an amazing assist.
A bunch of your teammates got together to watch the three of you on that stage. What does it mean to you to be part of a group that wants to get together and celebrate their teammates, then hear from them about what they thought about your performance.
That was actually amazing. After the game, I opened my Whatsapp, and I saw on the videos that everybody was sitting together and they were so happy for me.
I mean, there is something special about this locker room. I believe, of course, we have good players, but a lot of teams have good players. I think there is something special about the characters of these players.
If they keep everybody here, it will be an amazing time for Philly, because here there are a lot of unselfish people. You can see it on the field, also. A lot of unselfish actions. This is, I think, the key to why we succeed. Of course, we are playing good. We are good players, there is a good staff, the stadium is amazing, but, I think the main part is the character in the locker room.
[Nine] games left in the regular season. They call these the dog days of summer. What do you think your team needs to do to keep the momentum that they've built and push through the end with the same level of play that you have had so far?
We just need to continue the same. All the season, we've played good, even when we lost, we played good. I don't think we need to change anything, just to come ready as we are now, because I don't feel that someone is not ready.
We're ready all the season, and we just need to continue. I think this is the key. Everybody needs to stay together as one unit. No blame nobody if someone has a mistake like we're doing. This, and fight for each other.
