Zavier Gozo logged a 27-minute appearance off the bench to help Major League Soccer secure a 4-3 victory over a LIGA MX All-Star team on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at Charlotte FC's Bank of America Stadium. The Utah native's debut capped a week of festivities in Charlotte, North Carolina, following his participation in the All-Star Skills Challenge the previous evening.
A Historic All-Star Debut
The 19-year-old Real Salt Lake midfielder entered the match in the 63rd minute, becoming the 13th player in the club's 22-year history to earn All-Star honors. Gozo, who was born in West Valley City and raised in Eagle Mountain, became the youngest representative in Real Salt Lake history to join the All-Star roster, surpassing the 20-year-old selection of Diego Luna in 2024.
High-Scoring Match in Charlotte
The match featured a high-scoring contest where LAFC's Son Heung-Min scored twice in the 20th and 23rd minutes to provide an early advantage for MLS. After both sides traded goals to reach a 4-2 scoreline midway through the second half, Gozo entered the game to play on the left wing. He utilized his high work-rate to maintain pressure on the touchline throughout his shift.
Breakout Season Performance
Gozo's selection follows a strong start to the 2026 season, where he has recorded six goals and five assists in 14 games. This offensive production has tied him atop the Real Salt Lake Golden Boot leaderboard with rookie Sergi Solans. Gozo previously set a club record on May 13, 2026, by becoming the youngest player in franchise history to score two or more goals in a single game during a 3-0 victory over Houston.
Skills Challenge Highlights
The All-Star festivities included the inaugural MLS vs. LIGA MX All-Star Relay Challenge on July 28, 2026, at Truist Field. The LIGA MX squad, consisting of Fernando Gorrirán, El's Montiel, Javier Ruiz, Federico Pereira, Carlos Moreno, Carlos Rodrz, Jos Paradela, and Juan Brunetta, won the relay with a time of 1:34, defeating the MLS team of Evander, Zavier Gozo, Matt Freese, Petar Musa, Thomas Mller, Carles Gil, and Tim Ream.
Skills Challenge Results
During the Skills Challenge, Javier Ruiz of Necaxa won the Crossbar Challenge by defeating Gozo in the championship round. Other notable winners from the July 28 events included Charlotte FC defender Tim Ream, who won the Passing Challenge, and Orlando City SC goalkeeper Maxime Crau, who won the Goalie Wars. Thomas Mller and Evander both set record-setting marks of 79 points in the Shooting Challenge.
Looking Ahead
Following the All-Star break, Real Salt Lake will return to regular season action on Saturday, August 2, against St. Louis CITY SC. The club will then begin its Leagues Cup campaign on August 4, hosting Tigres UANL.
Player Background
Gozo, who has represented the U.S. U-20 Men's National Team, previously played for the Real Monarchs before joining the Real Salt Lake senior roster in 2024. His 2026 season has been marked by high goal involvement, including a notable performance in the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.
