Why Walker Zimmerman had Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber tunes buzzing at MLS All-Star Weekend

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Left back Dan Lovitz blasts rap and reggaetón in the Nashville SC locker room as team's unofficial DJ. But shutdown defender Walker Zimmerman has different tastes – and MLS All-Star Week was his chance to flaunt it.

If the three-time all-star and U.S. men's national team center back has the aux cord, he'll stick with the Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber essentials.

"I grew up liking both of them," Zimmerman said Monday at the MLS Media and Marketing Tour in greater Minneapolis. "I'm not a huge music guy, in terms of my diversity with music, but I listen to them a lot on Spotify."

Life as an MLS All-Star is about personality and performance. For Zimmerman, it was Bieber-Swift playlists and a decisive performance against Mexico's Liga MX All-Stars on Wednesday at Allianz Field in St. Paul, playing 45 minutes in a 2-1 win over Liga MX.

First-time all-star Hany Mukhtar showcased his top-tier Teqball skills and sealed his name in the league's upper echelon. Youth academy defender Alejandro Carrillo felt grateful to be Nashville's first MLS Next All-Star.

We followed Nashville's standout trio this week in the Twin Cities. Here's what we learned:

Zimmerman has evolved with MLS

Since Zimmerman was first named an MLS All-Star in 2019 with Los Angeles FC, he and the all-star game itself have taken a step up in international relevance.

He started off his all-star week with an 8 a.m. video shoot with U.S. Soccer, starting a media appearance slate with nearly 15 stops. Zimmerman and Mukhtar scrimmaged each other in training, too.

Zimmerman said the joint all-star game, which was first played last year in Los Angeles at Banc of California Stadium, "was definitely a new step in terms of the competition."

"Orlando was also, I believe, the first time they had to revamp the skills challenge and they brought that to life," Zimmerman said. "…You get to watch guys try and score crazy bike and scissor kicks."

Zimmerman entered the all-star game as one of the best center backs in MLS. He will also be one of the USMNT's best in November at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Alejandro Carrillo: Antioch to all-star

In Nashville, the 17-year-old Carrillo is a leader by example for the Under-13s, Under-14s and Under-15s. He's been with the MLS academy since 2020, joining from Nashville United Soccer Academy.

But as Nashville's first MLS Next All-Star, the 6-foot-2 center back from Antioch feels a greater responsibility.

"Not many people know about Antioch, Tennessee, because it's like a small little hood," Carrillo said. "To come out of Antioch, I feel like a great (example) that other kids can work hard and get to their dreams."

Carrillo moved a lot in his formative years, eluding crime in various neighborhoods,  using soccer as his escape. He's been playing since he was  2 years old and is set to graduate from STEM Prep Academy next spring.

Hany Mukhtar shows off skills

Mukhtar competed in Tuesday's skills challenge between the two all-star teams, winning it for MLS in the crossbar challenge.

"I've really enjoyed it," Mukhtar said. "All the stress as a player and as a club that you have come away from it all. It's a fun time with so much talent – for the fans and everyone in front of the TV. It's an amazing event."

For stories about Nashville SC or Soccer in Tennessee, contact Drake Hills at DHills@gannett.com. Follow Drake on Twitter at @LiveLifeDrake. Connect with Drake on Instagram at @drakehillssoccer and on Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How MLS All-Star Week went for Hany Mukhtar, Walker Zimmerman