Does Pep Biel actually have a chance at making MLS All Stars? A statistical look at MLS’s top attacking midfielders

By Rylee McKinney

Pep Biel takes on his opponent (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/Topbin90)

MLS is currently collecting votes for the highly anticipated 2025 MLS All-Star Game. As voting continues, MLS released a small teaser with the top vote-getters for each position.

Charlotte FC is notably absent from the teaser squad, with the sole exception of Pep Biel, who appears under the attacking midfielder category. Joining Biel in this category are Evander (CIN), Diego Luna (RSL), Cristian Espinoza (SJ), and Luciano Acosta (DAL). 

Pep Biel has tallied five goals and seven assists in 16 matches, creating endless opportunities for the Crown in the attacking third. Ultimately, Biel’s outstanding presence on the field earned him Charlotte FC’s Man of the Match against San Diego FC and a spot on MLS’s Team of the Matchday for Matchday 15. 

As the MLS All-Stars voting proceeds, the question of who really is the All-Star attacking midfielder arises. So, we decided to statistically break down and compare Biel’s performance to that of his All-Star competition.

Pep Biel

As mentioned above, Pep Biel currently has five goals and seven assists in 16 matches so far this season. In regards to his expected non-penalty goals (xG), Biel ranks in the 84th percentile with an xG of .29 per 90 minutes. For expected assisted goals, Biel sits in the 99th percentile with an xAG of .39, demonstrating his critical abilities in creating goals for his teammates.

His combined npxG + xAG equals 0.67, which is the 97th percentile. When reviewing his general midfielder responsibilities, Biel is in the 71st percentile for progressive passes and the 94th percentile for interceptions. These statistics highlight Biel’s skills as a dynamic midfielder, as he pushes forward in the attack while also tracking back in moments of transition. 

Nonetheless, Biel’s statistics do not show his ability to overcome adversity. Despite a hamstring injury keeping him off the pitch for several weeks, Biel has dominated the statistics in a shorter amount of time than some of his competitors. 

Evander 

While Biel’s numbers are impressive, he's not without serious competition. One of the frontrunners is Evander. The Brazilian has scored seven goals and five assists in just 15 matches so far this season. With an xG of .29 and an xAG of .37, Evander places in the 96th percentile for a combined npxG + xAG of .66. Compared to Biel, Evander has a slight dip in assists but matches Biel’s goal-scoring potential. 

Evander excels past Biel in the shot-creating actions category, with Evander sitting in the 99th percentile and Biel in the 67th percentile. Additionally, Evander is in the 96th percentile for progressive passes, a stark difference from Biel’s 71st percentile placing. Based on statistics alone, it appears that Evander takes on more of a playmaker role for FC Cincinnati in the midfield.

Diego Luna

This American attacking midfielder has a total of eight goals and two assists in his 16 matches played for Real Salt Lake. Luna has played in 1335 minutes, compared to Biel’s 1256 minutes. This significant difference in minutes might contribute to their difference in goals. Luna’s xG measures in at .26, and his xAG is .25, with a combined total of .44 npxG +xAG. Although Luna has technically scored more goals, his npxG + xAG is lower than Biel’s by .23, which is significant. 

As for Luna’s contributions to general midfield responsibilities, he does overshadow Biel in terms of progressive passes and progressive carries, ranking in the 78th and 47th percentiles. Consequently, Luna spends a little more time building plays for Real Salt Lake while also scoring more goals rather than creating opportunities for his teammates.

Cristian Espinoza

San Jose Earthquakes’ Cristian Espinoza has played in 16 matches so far this season, scoring four goals and adding six assists. Espinoza’s combined npxG + xAG is only .48, ranking him in the 78th percentile, which is significantly lower than Biel's. Although Espinoza looks impressive for San Jose, he statistically is not quite at Biel’s level. 

Similar to Evander and Luna, however, Espinoza provides a foundation for San Jose’s offensive playmaking. Sitting in the 62nd percentile for progressive passes and the 80th percentile for progressive carries, Espinoza looks ahead on the field. 

Luciano Acosta

Placed just above Pep Biel in the top vote-getters is FC Dallas’ Luciano Acosta. The Argentinian currently has three goals and zero assists in 15 matches for Dallas. With a 0.18 npxG and a 0.27 xAG, Acosta ranks lower compared to the other attacking midfielders in terms of goals and assists.

However, Acosta excels in his other responsibilities as a midfielder. Acosta places in the 94th percentile for progressive passes and the 64th percentile for progressive carries, highlighting his importance in the midfield for creating plays. 

Although Acosta has attracted strong fan support, his statistical output currently lags behind that of Biel and several of the other candidates. 

Summary

As the 2025 MLS All-Star voting heats up, Charlotte FC’s Pep Biel emerges as the club’s lone representative among the top vote-getters in the attacking midfielder category. Despite facing intense competition from Evander, Diego Luna, Cristian Espinoza, and Luciano Acosta, Biel’s standout statistics position him as one of the league’s most efficient and impactful midfielders.

While players like Evander and Luna boast strong goal contributions and higher shot-creating metrics, Biel’s balance of creativity, defensive work rate, and productivity in fewer minutes showcases his elite form.

Voting for the MLS All-Star game will conclude on June 11th. The MLS All-Star squad will take on the Liga MX All-Stars on July 23rd in Austin, Texas, at Q2 Stadium. 

*All stats were pulled from FBRef