Not even a little weather could rain on the parade of the MLS All-Stars at Truist Field on Tuesday night in Charlotte, North Carolina, even though the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge was paused due to a thunder and lightning storm about midway through it. Yet even still, through the wind and the rain, FC Cincinnati midfielder and three-time MLS All-Star Evander was a starring player in the league's penultimate event at this week's festivities,
Tuesday’s MLS All-Star Skills Challenge brought together a collection of MLS and LIGA MX All-Stars, along with some special guests, for skills competitions for the title of champion. Evander, a reigning record holder in the shooting challenge, was entered into the crossing challenge and the team relay event that would close the night.
While not specifically entered in the shooting challenge this year, Evander had a role to play in the festivities. As the record holder with 72 points, Evander took his spot in a throne brought out to the field and wore his crown to mark his ruling status on the event. He would only be called upon to participate should his record be broken, and in that case he would descend from his throne and enter the competition to try and win back his spot at the top.
That opportunity emerged almost immediately as the first star to step up set the tone for the event. Vancouver Whitecaps star Tomas Müller stepped up and earned a 79-point perfect score to knock Evander off the throne. The Brazilian midfielder was gracious in stepping off and handing over the crown, but then stepped up and put on a show of his own.
After FC Dallas forward Petr Musa failed to break the 70-point mark and two Liga MX competitors followed similarly with low scores, Evander laced them up and shocked the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge, equaling Müller’s perfect score with a 79 of his own.
With a tie set, the duo decided to split the title, with Müller taking home the trophy for the 2026 event and Evander the crown as multiyear record holder.
Funny enough, earlier that day Evander spoke before All-Star training on the event and nearly predicted the outcome to the exact detail. In front of the gathered press, the three-time All-Star predicted that if anyone could beat his record it would be Müller, but that he rated himself to earn it back.
“I don’t know, we will see. But if someone could do it I think it would be Thomas (Müller),” Evander said with a laugh and a smile when asked if he thought he’d have to defend his crown. “I’m really not sure though, I kind of hope not. But if he does, then I think I have a good chance of breaking it again. I watched my performance last year and I think there’s some room for improvement still too. So we will see, but I think I can take this one.”
The rest of the night saw hometown star Tim Ream of Charlotte FC mop up the passing challenge, but after that the skies opened and Zeus appeared as lightning began to crack. After a nearly 100-minute delay, things finally got back underway, with Orlando City SC goalkeeper taking home the Goalie Wars crown and Liga MX star Javier Ruiz of Club Necaxa winning the crossbar challenge.
In the final event of the night, Evander’s MLS side lost by mere seconds in the relay to Liga MX, though the FC Cincinnati man did well by completing his one-touch session on the first try before firing the ball serving as a baton to the next phase.
The next and final step for the MLS All-Star festivities come Wednesday night at Bank of America Stadium when the MLS All-Stars lace it up to take on the Liga MX stars at 7:30 p.m., with Evander set to come off the bench for the MLS side. Once the game is over, the FC Cincinnati man will jet home and rejoin his side for training on Thursday as The Orange and Blue prepare for this Saturday’s match against the San Jose Earthquakes at TQL Stadium.
