Schweinsteiger a true star for Chicago Fire

If there's a star among stars on this year's MLS all-star team, it's Chicago Fire midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger.

It's not a role he sought, but he understands it comes with the territory, being one of the world's most recognizable players and the league's premier signing this season.

"It's great that the game is in Chicago, which I call home," Schweinsteiger said after the all-stars' first training session Monday at UIC. "But it's a big honor to be voted for the game. Also to be voted for the (team) captain, obviously, is great. Looking forward for Wednesday."

The MLS all-stars host European champion Real Madrid on Wednesday at Soldier Field (8 p.m., FS1 and Uni-vision).

Schweinsteiger is joined on the all-star team by Fire teammates Dax McCarty, Nemanja Nikolic and Johan Kap-pelhof. Fire coach Veljko Paunovic is managing the all-stars.

"He was huge for us, very important," Paunovic said of Schweinsteiger's effect on the Fire. "He brought a mentality we were looking for. He brought soccer also, not only on the field, but he brought also the character, the identity for our club off the field. He did a great job so far.

"He's also somebody that's a natural giver. Very charismatic. He brought a lot of attention to our club. We were brought on the world map of soccer with him here."