COMMERCE CITY, Colo. - Former North Carolina All-America Eddie Pope will play in his final Major League Soccer All-Star Game Thursday against Celtic FC at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo. The match will be televised live at 9 p.m. on ESPN2.

The 12-year MLS veteran and current member of Real Salt Lake, who starred with the Tar Heels from 1992-95, will retire at the end of the season. His official MLS All-Star bio courtesy mlsnet.com is as follows:

Eddie Pope - Defender - Real Salt Lake - Born: December 24, 1973
Pope received a record eleventh consecutive and eleventh overall selection for the MLS All-Star Team in this his final MLS season. The 33-year-old North Carolina native is a veteran of three FIFA World Cups, and in a 10-year career with the Men's National Team, established himself as arguably the best central defender ever to represent the United States. A three-time MLS Cup winner, four-time MLS Best XI member, and All-Time MLS Best XI defender, Pope is leaving a legacy of professionalism and skill behind when he retires this season. Twice the recipient of D.C United's Humanitarian of the Year Award, Pope has made a tremendous impact off the field as well. The former UNC All-American devotes much of his time to the Eddie Pope Foundation, an organization that uses soccer as a development tool for underserved youth. Pope's 12 years of leadership, class and performance on the field have been invaluable to MLS and U.S. soccer.