Alex Ring was named to the MLS all-star team for the first time. (Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports)

New York City captain and striker David Villa and midfielder Alex Ring were named to the MLS all-star team, the league announced Friday.

Villa, who will miss Saturday’s game at Chicago with a knee injury, leads City with eight goals. He also has recorded four assists.

Ring, in his second season in Major League Soccer, has become one of the league’s top defensive midfielders with his play from one end of the field to the other.

The MLS all-stars are set to take on Italian power Juventus FC at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium Aug. 1.

MLS all-star team

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan^ (Atlanta United), Zack Steffen* (Columbus Crew SC)

Defenders: Francisco Calvo* (Minnesota United), Laurent Ciman^ (Los Angeles Football Club), Matt Hedges* (FC Dallas), Aaron Long* (New York Red Bulls), Michael Amir Murillo* (New York Red Bulls), Michael Parkhurst^ (Atlanta United), Graham Zusi^ (Sporting Kansas City)

Midfielders: Miguel Almirón^ (Atlanta United), Ezequiel Barco^ (Atlanta United), Alphonso Davies# (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Jonathan dos Santos* (LA Galaxy), Alberth Elis* (Houston Dynamo), Ignacio Piatti* (Montreal Impact), Alexander Ring* (New York City FC), Ilie Sanchez* (Sporting Kansas City), Diego Valeri^ (Portland Timbers), Yoshimar Yotún* (Orlando City SC), Wilfried Zahibo* (New England Revolution)

Forwards: Sebastian Giovinco* (Toronto FC), Zlatan Ibrahimović^ (LA Galaxy), Josef Martínez^ (Atlanta United), Carlos Vela^ (Los Angeles Football Club), David Villa* (New York City FC), Bradley Wright-Phillips# (New York Red Bulls)

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.