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2026 MLS All-Star Week

FC Cincinnati All-Star midfielder Evander led a star studded cast of league stars to Charlotte for MLS All-Star festivities

By FC Cincinnati

July 30^th, 2026

In a sky full of stars, none shined brighter than Evander as MLS All-Star Festivities took over in Charlotte, North Carolina this week

From training sessions to a late night dramatic win for the MLS All-Stars at Bank of America Field, the MLS community descended on Charlotte, North Carolina for the 30th MLS All-Star game!

With a cast of characters that included international superstars like Son Huang-min and Thomas Müller, World Cup representatives for their nation like Petr Musa, Tim Ream and Maxime Crépeau, no one had a more star studded week than The Bridge from Cincinnati himself, Evander.

With Evander back in Cincinnati now focusing on The Orange and Blue's next match, let's look back through his week at Major League Soccer's star studded celebration!

Training Begins

Day one of All-Star week is always a fun day because for the first time, some of Major League Soccer's biggest names can put away their club rivalries and come together as one squad for a few days. Evander spent day one at the week's festivities training with new friends in LAFC's Son Heung-Min and Vancouver Whitecaps' Thomas Müller, and reuniting with old friends like Brazilian compatriot Guilherme and former teammate from Denmark Anders Dreyer, now of San Diego FC.

It feels amazing, especially being in this event and being among all the best players in the league. It’s just such a special night and a memorable event.

Familiar Faces Become New Friends

Evander was a star personality in training, continuing to live up to his nickname of "The Bridge," by connecting with everyone. For example, when LAFC's Son was asked who he would pick first for an MLS Fantasy team, he answered Evander. And when teenage RBNY All-Star Julian Hall was asked who he was most excited to play with, he surpassed some of the global superstars and pointed to Mr. Cincy himself, Evander.

Lights, Camera, Action

MLS All-Star Media Day takes over Bank of America Stadium as Evander and Co. make the rounds!

Who's NEXT? Connor Dale and Dom Lester represent the FC Cincinnati Academy in the MLS NEXT All-Star Game!

Evander was not the only member of The Orange and Blue to shine bright for All-Star week! Young Gary's and FC Cincinnati Academy standouts Connor Dale (16) and Dom Lester (16) made their mark at the MLS NEXT All-Star Game on Monday night at Mecklenburg County Sportsplex.

A Dynamic Duo

Dale, a goalkeeper, and Lester, a right back, both of whom are 16 and have already made professional debuts with the MLS NEXT Pro side FC Cincinnati 2 earlier this year, came on in the second half to help secure one of the more lopsided wins in the event's history. A 6-1 victory for the East in the battle over the West.

The MLS NEXT All-Star game brings together the top academy talent from across the MLS NEXT system at all age groups, and has served as a preview of the future of the game in America in recent years. FC Cincinnati have had a history of having multiple players selected for the match, as this is now the fourth year in a row that two players have been chosen for the event!

Day 2 - The Fun Begins

Training Session v2.0

Given the more festive nature of the MLS All-Star game, it should be unsurprising to hear that training was a little more fun and loose than it was grinding. But it did allow players to get a feel for each other on the field and start to mesh ahead of the match Wednesday night. Players were split into multiple groups and then taken through multiple drills before opening things up to more ‘free time’ where soccer-tennis, shooting stations and other communal activities were available to mix the groups up.

Evander started in a group with LAFC and South Korea national team star Son Heung-Min, San Diego FC midfielder and former teammate in Denmark Anders Dreyer, USMNT captain Tim Ream, fellow Brazilian attacker Guilherme, breakout Croatian World Cup star and FC Dallas striker Petr Musa and Charlotte FC All-Star Ashley Westwood.

They’re all just amazing human beings, amazing guys. It’s really great just to get to know these guys and have some fun

Training Continues

It was – perhaps unsurprisingly due to Evander’s previous relationships with Dreyer and Guilherme, and some of the other preestablished friendships in the group like Tim Ream and Ashley Westwood – the liveliest bunch of the training session and pretty clearly the most vocal.

Evander and Guilherme were playfully called out for scheming in Portuguese when trying to coordinate passes. Son and Westwood playfully poked at Ream for his age every time he did anything even remotely athletic, and Ream, playing back, would point to team trainers on site, crediting them for keeping him “upright.”

Missing Boots?

There was also then a series of shouts between groups as rumors of a shared boots situation began to make the rounds. It was believed that after forgetting his boots at home, Thomas Müller had to borrow boots from someone in Evander’s group. That rumor was cleared up as untrue, and while Müller did forget his boots, the Vancouver staff got them delivered to him; but that did not make the back-and-forth any less fun.

There was further chatter that Müller had initially tried to borrow Evander's boots, then Son's. But with the rumor debunked, it was all for not.

Test your Skills!

Next up was the 2026 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge at Truist Field, where the best of Liga MX and MLS would duke it out in a series of skill games to determine a champion in five disciplines.

Evander, a reigning champion in the shooting challenge, would get the change to defend his crown in that event as well as earn a new one in the cross bar challenge and the team relay.

At the end of the night, with records smashed and then smashed again, it was Evander who emerged with the crown after all was said and done.

Heavy is the Head that wears the Crown

Not even a little weather could rain on the parade of the MLS All-Stars at Truist Field on Tuesday night, even though the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge was paused due to a thunder and lightning storm about midway through it.

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, and 2025 champion. Evander was given a spot on 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.

We will see. But if someone could do it I think it would be Thomas (Müller). But if he does, then I think I have a good chance of breaking it again

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.

Evander Does What Evander Does

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.

KING E, LONG MAY HE REIGN

Day 3 - Game Time

Time for Primetime

After two days of build up, it was finally time for the central event of the week, The 2026 MLS All-Star Game.

In the star studded event that pitted the MLS All-Stars against the All-Stars of Liga MX, it was once again, who else, Evander who played the pivotal role in securing victory for Major League Soccer!

History Maker, Match Winner, Fan Favorite

After coming on at halftime as part of a large shift of players, the Brazilian midfield maestro made his mark on the game quickly by linking up with teammates and helping the MLS All-Stars take control of the flow of the game. Wearing the number 19 for the match, Evander was placed in an advanced position by MLS and Charlotte FC Head Coach Dean Smith, appearing to operate in the middle of a 4-3-3 formation.

After a few early chances from the MLS All-Stars were thwarted, it was Evander who eventually broke through for the side in the 55’.

GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL

Receiving a last-minute poke of a pass from a falling Sam Surridge of Nashville SC, the FC Cincinnati star took a combination of quick touches in crowded space to open himself up to the net. Evander then uncorked a perfectly placed finesse shot that curled just so around the Liga MX goalkeeper and into the net to score, giving the MLS All-Stars a 4-2 lead at the time.

With the goal, Evander became the first FC Cincinnati player in club history to score in an MLS All-Star Game.

To put your name on the sheet and get a goal, it's just such a special moment

It’s a great finish from him. A really great finish. It’s great to play with other great players and people like Evander. It’s fantastic.

A Club First and a Game Winner

Evander’s 45 minutes on the pitch saw him help his side see out a victory over Liga MX for the second year in a row, and, with the Mexican squad scoring to bring the score to 4-3 in the late moments of the match, the FC Cincinnati man’s goal became the game-winner, putting Evander’s name down in the history of MLS All-Star games.

He's such a great guy and a great player. It’s nice to be back together. That’s something that this event can do. It can bring good football people together.

Memories Made, but Cincinnati Calls

With a goal in his back pocket, some new friends' numbers in his Rolodex, and a crown earned in the Skills Challenge again, Evander had a starring weekend amongst stars, but the focus now turns back to The Orange and Blue and the work there is to do.

FC Cincinnati take on the San Jose Earthquakes this weekend at TQL Stadium, and while Evander has been away, the team has been preparing for that match awaiting his return.

Darting out of the Bank of America Stadium almost immediately after the final whistle on the 4-3 victory, Evander was headed to the airport and on his way back to Cincy. He didn't want to miss another minute of training, and was looking to reunite with his teammates as soon as he could.

“(After) a tough game last weekend…we need to give a win to the fans at home,” Evander said as he was being driven out of the stadium. “I need to (be back) to help prepare for that.”

Footnotes

Words by Carter Chapley. Photos by Joseph Guzy.

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FootNotes

Words by Carter Chapley. Photos by Joseph Guzy.