Kiwi Players Elsewhere

Michael Boxall (Minnesota United | USA)

1112 replies · 277,005 views
15 Jun 00:31
Boxy in the centre of a 3 CBs 
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25 Jun 23:10
Boxy is an MLS All-Star.



Thought we might get the Kiwi CB pairing of Boxall x Surman, but alas it was not meant to be.
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25 Jun 23:21 · edited 26 Jun 00:36 · History
Him and Nellie.

Boxy may deny it, but I bet he's secretly pretty chuffed to be selected. A chance to play alongside Messi?

There was a cocerted social media campaign to get the very popular Kiwi veteran picked. Regardless he's having a high quality season in the MLS.

Starting today verus Houston.

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26 Jun 00:38 · edited 26 Jun 00:44 · History
Who was the first Kiwi to play against Messi?  Tuiloma?
Sadly for Surman doesn't look like Portland play Inter Miami this MLS season.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360736581/all-whites-defender-michael-boxall-play-alongside-lionel-messi-mls-all-star-team

Six weeks after coming up against Lionel Messi — and beating him — All Whites defender Michael Boxall has been given the once-in-a-lifetime chance to play alongside the global football icon.

The Minnesota United captain has joined the Argentine FIFA World Cup winner, widely viewed as the greatest player of all time, in earning selection for Major League Soccer All-Star team ahead of their game against LIGA MX's best in Austin, Texas on July 24 (NZT).

It is the first time Boxall has been selected in the MLS All-Star team in his nine seasons with Minnesota.
Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring a goal for Inter Miami at the Club World Cup.

The 36-year-old won his spot on the 26-player roster through fan voting after leading Minnesota to their current third-placing on the Western Conference standings.

Boxall was only the second New Zealander to share the pitch with Messi when Minnesota faced Inter Miami in May and he will be the first to play on the same team as the former Barcelona superstar in the All-Star game.
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26 Jun 03:13
coochiee
Who was the first Kiwi to play against Messi?  Tuiloma?
Sadly for Surman doesn't look like Portland play Inter Miami this MLS season.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360736581/all-whites-defender-michael-boxall-play-alongside-lionel-messi-mls-all-star-team

Six weeks after coming up against Lionel Messi — and beating him — All Whites defender Michael Boxall has been given the once-in-a-lifetime chance to play alongside the global football icon.

The Minnesota United captain has joined the Argentine FIFA World Cup winner, widely viewed as the greatest player of all time, in earning selection for Major League Soccer All-Star team ahead of their game against LIGA MX's best in Austin, Texas on July 24 (NZT).

It is the first time Boxall has been selected in the MLS All-Star team in his nine seasons with Minnesota.
Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring a goal for Inter Miami at the Club World Cup.

The 36-year-old won his spot on the 26-player roster through fan voting after leading Minnesota to their current third-placing on the Western Conference standings.

Boxall was only the second New Zealander to share the pitch with Messi when Minnesota faced Inter Miami in May and he will be the first to play on the same team as the former Barcelona superstar in the All-Star game.
Billy T hasn’t played against him, but Tyler Boyd did twice in 2023/24
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26 Jun 10:43
coochiee
Him and Nellie.

Boxy may deny it, but I bet he's secretly pretty chuffed to be selected. A chance to play alongside Messi?

There was a cocerted social media campaign to get the very popular Kiwi veteran picked. Regardless he's having a high quality season in the MLS.

Starting today verus Houston.

coochiee
Him and Nellie.

Boxy may deny it, but I bet he's secretly pretty chuffed to be selected. A chance to play alongside Messi?

There was a cocerted social media campaign to get the very popular Kiwi veteran picked. Regardless he's having a high quality season in the MLS.

Starting today verus Houston.


My understanding is there’s something of a backlash about this noveau riche Barcelona retirement home amongst MLS stalwarts and fans elsewhere. Boxy was a bit non—plussed when asked if he was excited about playing Miami and perhaps there’s a bit of that in voting him in to this team?


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26 Jun 11:17 · edited 26 Jun 11:39 · History
Good day for Boxy capped off by the pre assist for Minny's first goal today. Another one of his long throws into the penalty box, FDV like.

The scorer Bongokuhle "Bongi" Hlongwane - like Boxall has played in Sth Africa's PSL. He was at Maritzburg United from 2019–2022. So would have crossed paths if briefly with Jeremy Brockie (2019-2020) and more with Dan Morgan (2019-2022) who who were both also at Maritzburg



Boxall had earlier in the game conceded a pen, that was rightly over turned by VAR as he won the cleanly in a tackle outside the box. The Houston player with the dive, and looks like he got a yellow card for simulation.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-b-hlongwane-vs-hou-61#highlights-minnesota-united-vs-houston-dynamo-fc-june-25-2025
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28 Jun 22:51 · edited 29 Jun 01:52 · History
Boxall starts
Edit - Minny up 2-1 at HT
Edit 2 - finishes a 2-2 draw. Full game Boxy
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29 Jun 02:24 · edited 29 Jun 10:48 · History
Yet again another lethal Boxall long throw.
 
From memory that is the 3rd MLS goal Minny have scored from a Boxy throw this season. One assist and two pre assists??

https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-a-markanich-vs-rbny-45#goal-a-markanich-vs-rbny-45



https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/highlights-new-york-red-bulls-vs-minnesota-united-june-28-2025#highlights-new-york-red-bulls-vs-minnesota-united-june-28-2025
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08 Jul 23:26 · edited 09 Jul 23:26 · History
Minny host Chicago in the US Open Cup quarters.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2025/07/09/united-states/us-open-cup/minnesota/chicago/4656869/

Niche Cache
That’s three games in a row in which the Loons have scored from a Michael Boxall long throw being flicked on at the near post and finished at the far post. It’s happened from both sides of the pitch. It’s happened in other games outside of this recent burst. Minnesota United have scored 13 goals from set pieces this year which is the most in all of Major League Soccer and the most fruitful of those situations has been Boxy’s throw-ins.


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09 Jul 23:33
Minny beat Chicago 3-1 in ET.
Boxall got a rest on the pine until introduced at 75 mins (1-1).

Minnesota into the US Open Cup semis. All 8 quarter finalists were MLS teams.
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13 Jul 01:22 · edited 13 Jul 01:55 · History
Boxy starts. Minny 1-0 up approaching HT.

Edit - bang, bang. Minny now lead 3-0 at HT. Couple more set piece (corners) goals.
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22 Jul 23:31 · edited 23 Jul 00:23 · History
Boxy a bit meh about playing with the GOAT.
Game verus Mexico's Liga MX All Stars is tomorrow
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2025/07/24/world/mls-all-star/mls-all-stars/liga-mx-as/4580216/

Niche Cache

Meanwhile, Michael Boxall has (begrudgingly) linked up with the MLS All Stars ahead of that showcase game on Thursday. That’s probably why they tried to rest him for the Portland game. Those fellas are sneaking in a few days of training before they face the Liga MX All Stars... with the exception of Lionel Messi who apparently only has to turn up for the game itself. His Inter Miami teammates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets are also missing in action and it’s not clear if they’ll be involved or not. For some dumb reason, they scheduled this thing in the midweek between two full rounds of MLS games so a few of the coaches are playing silly buggers about their players.



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24 Jul 02:43 · edited 24 Jul 03:10 · History
Messi hasn't turned up but Boxy has.







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24 Jul 05:49 · edited 24 Jul 05:51 · History
MLS All Stars XI win 3-1. Looks like game ain't taken seriously at all. Can see why Lionel skipped the midweek trip to Austin, Texas.

MLS XI made 7 changes at 34 mins. 18 changes in all, guys coming in & out of the match.
Boxy started and off at HT.
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26 Jul 23:58 · edited 27 Jul 00:10 · History
Boxy back starting in the MLS. In the middle of 3 CBs
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27 Jul 09:44
This match all 3 goals were pens. Unfortunately Boxall gave away a soft one for St Louis to score first. 

But at least he saw his team to go on to win, SL with a DOGSCO red card to make it 1-1. And then Minny getting a 2nd late on. Their pen taker Yeboah loves the stutter step walk in.
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29 Jul 02:32 · edited 29 Jul 02:33 · History
Boxy the goal line clearance.

Both him and GK Dwayne St-Clair (DSC) were team mates in the All Star game as well.

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30 Jul 23:48 · edited 31 Jul 01:47 · History
Boxy can a rest on the pine. 

NZU20 rep Troy Putt who is apparently in Minny's wider 30 man squad for the Leagues Cup (3 pool games against Liga MX clubs) not in the match day squad.
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31 Jul 02:24 · edited 31 Jul 02:41 · History
MB on at 71 mins (2-1) as Minny win 4-1.

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03 Aug 00:20 · edited 03 Aug 02:22 · History
Boxall starts
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03 Aug 04:30
Finished 3-3. 
Went to a pen shootout that Club America won 8-7. 
Both teams perfect from spot including Boxy who took his to make it 7-7. 
But the next Minny pen taker Romero failed to convert.
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06 Aug 23:47 · edited 07 Aug 02:42 · History
Boxy gets a rest on the bench. No Putt

Edit - 65 mins in & Minny trail 0-1.
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07 Aug 02:42 · edited 07 Aug 02:49 · History
Boxall an unused sub in an upset 0-2 loss.

Now Minnesota (W D L) wait to see whether they progress to the next round of the Leagues Cup or not. Quietly they probably don't care, as they know they have their best chance ever in their short history to win the MLS Cup. 
Currently 3rd in the West, with 1 & 2 pts of Vancouver (2nd) & San Diego (1st)
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