Shimizu S-Pulse midfielder Alex topped the voting for the J. League foreign players team, World Dreams, to play against the league's Japanese players side, Japan Dreams, in the JOMO Cup on Sept. 2 (kickoff 5 p.m.) at Tokyo's National Stadium, the J. League announced.
Alex, who collected 179 out of 190 valid ballots submitted by soccer journalists around the country, will make his first appearance in the annual exhibition game after being forced to skip last year's version due to injury. Yokohama F. Marinos and Japan defender Naoki Matsuda was second in the balloting with 129 votes.
The World Dreams side includes JEF United Ichihara and South Korea striker Choi Yong Soo, Brazilian forward Will of Consadole Sapporo, Croatian striker Nino Bule of Gamba Osaka, Kashima Antlers defender Fabiano and Australia and Sanfrecce Hiroshima midfielder Steve Corica. The team will be guided by JEF United manager Zdenko Verdenik of Slovenia with Kashima's Toninho Cerezo serving as his assistant.