Borja Mayoral was named MVP of the 2017 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target, as he scored the opening goal in Real Madrid's win over the All-Stars at Soldier Field in Chicago on Wednesday.
Mayoral made a nifty move by a couple MLS defenders and hit a deflected shot in the 59th minute to beat Stefan Frei in goal, to make it 1-0. The game ended in a 4-2 penalty shootout win for the European champions after finishing 1-1 in regulation. The 20-year-old started centrally up top for Madrid, taking three shots in 61 minutes, before being replaced by Karim Benzema.
The Real Madrid product is back with the club after spending last season on loan at German club Wolfsburg, looking to break through on a squad with a stacked lineup. A member of the Real Madrid set-up since 2007, Mayoral played under current Real head coach Zinedine Zidane on Real Madrid's reserve team when Zidane coached that squad. Mayoral is also a Spanish youth international.
ZIdane discussed Mayoral's play on Wednesday and his prospects for the upcoming La Liga season with the team after the game.
"I’m happy for Borja who had minutes [today]," Zidane said in the postgame press conference. "This is his home and he’s from [Madrid] and he knows how it works. I’m happy with his game.
"Obviously right now he’s with us and after we’ll see. Up to the 31st [of August] anything can happen, but until now he’s happy with us and I’m happy with him."
