Preview: Graham Zusi and MLS All-Stars meet mighty Real Madrid in 2017 MLS All-Star Game

A scintillating summer spectacle beckons on Wednesday as Major League Soccer's best players will gather to face iconic Spanish superpower Real Madrid in the 2017 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. CT on FS1 and Univision at Soldier Field in Chicago, with Sporting Kansas City defender Graham Zusi among those set to battle the reigning UEFA Champions League and La Liga champions.

Zusi joins a heralded MLS All-Star roster headlined by former Real Madrid star Kaka and Spanish legend David Villa. World Cup-winning midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, gifted forward Sebastian Giovinco, a host of U.S. Men's National Team stars and promising crop of young players round out a loaded squad that will be coached on Wednesday by the Chicago Fire's Veljko Paunovic.

On the opposite sideline, Real Madrid continue their preparations for the 2017-18 campaign just two months removed from winning the UEFA Champions League for the second straight year. Guided by manager Zinedine Zidane, a former midfielder and an unquestioned legend in the sport, Los Blancos also collected their 33rd La Liga title. Zidane has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal, as Madrid's roster includes some of soccer's biggest international names: Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Luka Modric, Isco and others. And that's not even mentioning 2016 Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, who likely won't begin training with the team until after the All-Star Game.

Wednesday's match is the next step during a busy and exciting summer for Zusi, who helped the U.S. Men's National Team to the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup title last week. The versatile right back has started 16 of 17 MLS appearances this season for a Sporting Kansas City side that has kept nine clean sheets and boasts a league-low 0.77 goals against average. In addition to contributing to a stout backline, Zusi has assisted four goals in all competitions and leads MLS defenders with 33 chances created.

The MLS All-Star roster consists of the All-Star Fan XI, announced on July 7, as well as two Commissioner’s Picks and 11 additional players selected by All-Star head coach Veljko Paunovic of the Chicago Fire. Zusi was one of three defenders voted to the Fan XI, which sealed his fifth MLS All-Star designation since 2012. The 30-year-old was the only player to appear in every MLS All-Star Game from 2012-2015. Zusi's five All-Star selections are tied with current teammate Matt Besler for third-most in Kansas City history, trailing only Preki (seven) and Jimmy Conrad (six).

The full roster is a mix of 16 All-Star veterans as well as eight All-Star newcomers, representing 13 MLS clubs and hailing from 13 different countries, the most diverse group in All-Star history. Additionally, 20 of the 24 players named to the roster have represented their countries at the senior national team level.

Wednesday marks the first time a Spanish outfit will participate in the All-Star Game. It will also be the 13th straight against a European club opponent, with the All-Stars boasting a 7-4-1 record in the previous 12 fixtures against some of Europe's best teams. This stretch includes wins over Bayern Munich and Tottenham in 2014 and 2015, respectively, before falling to Arsenal last year.

MLS All-Star Roster

Goalkeepers: Stefan Frei (Seattle Sounders FC), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids)

Defenders: DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo), Greg Garza (Atlanta United FC), Hernán Grana (FC Dallas), Matt Hedges (FC Dallas), Johan Kappelhof (Chicago Fire), Michael Parkhurst (Atlanta United FC), Jelle Van Damme (LA Galaxy), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

Midfielders: Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Miguel Almirón (Atlanta United FC), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Giovani dos Santos (LA Galaxy), Kaká (Orlando City SC), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire), Ignacio Piatti (Montreal Impact), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Chicago Fire), Diego Valeri (Portland Timbers)

Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Dom Dwyer (Orlando City SC), Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto FC), Nemanja Nikolić (Chicago Fire), David Villa (New York City FC)

Real Madrid Traveling Roster

Goalkeepers: Kiko Casilla, Keylor Navas, Ruben Yanez, Luca Zidane

Defenders: Dani Carvajal, Achraf Hakimi, Theo Hernandez, Manuel Hernando, Marcelo, Nacho, Luis Miguel Quezada, Sergio Ramos, Alvaro Tejero, Jesus Vallejo, Raphael Varane

Midfielders: Marco Asensio, Casemiro, Dani Ceballos, Mateo Kovacic, Toni Kroos, Marcos Llorente, Luka Modric

Forwards: Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Francisco Feuillassier, Daniel Gomez, Isco, Borja Mayoral, Oscar Rodriguez, Lucas Vazquez

All-Time MLS All-Star Game Results