NEW YORK (Thursday, July 17, 2025) – FC Cincinnati midfielder Evander was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Matchday for Matchday 25 of the 2025 MLS season.
The MLS All-Star bagged a second-half brace to secure an emphatic 3-0 win against red-hot Inter Miami CF in a battle of Supporters’ Shield contenders. At 45 points, FC Cincinnati moved up to second place in the league table, just one point behind the Philadelphia Union, and has won six of its last seven games. Wednesday’s victory snapped a six-game undefeated streak for Miami, who currently rank fifth in the Eastern Conference.
Evander has been instrumental to the club’s success this season, leading the team with 15 goals and eight assists. His 23 goal contributions are tied for second in MLS with Miami forward Lionel Messi and just three behind San Diego FC midfielder and league-leader Andres Dreyer, who has 26 contributions. The Brazilian midfielder has scored in five straight games, becoming the first player in FC Cincinnati history to achieve the feat. His eight goals over the five-game span are second just to former Cincy forward Brenner’s nine tallies from Sept. 10 to Oct. 9, 2022.
FC Cincinnati took an early 1-0 lead on Wednesday night, but Evander iced the result with his pair of second-half tallies. Moving down the right wing, midfielder Pavel Bucha played it into the Brazilian at the arc and he controlled it in traffic to get past two Miami defenders and hit a shot to the right post from the penalty spot for Cincy’s second in the 50th minute. The second insurance goal came in the 70th minute. Forward Luca Orellano ripped a shot after driving into the top right corner of the box and Miami goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo did well to make the save, but Evander was there to pounce on the rebound. He tapped it in for his second of the night and 15th of the season, good for third in MLS.
It’s Evander’s second Player of the Matchday award this season and his fourth overall, winning at least once a year since joining MLS in 2023. Earlier this season, Evander won for Matchday 21 after bagging his second brace in as many games in a 2-1 win against Orlando City SC. Last year, the Brazilian won for Matchday 33 after a two-goal, one assist performance against Western Conference leader LA Galaxy. In 2023, he was honored for Matchday 12 following his first career MLS brace, including the game-winning goal against Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
Next up, FC Cincinnati will visit Real Salt Lake on Saturday, July 19 (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV / Apple TV+) and then will take on Inter Miami again, this time in South Florida on Saturday, July 26 (7:15 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV / FS1 / FOX Deportes).
The MLS Player of the Matchday is selected each matchday of the regular season through both media and fan voting in a process conducted by MLS Communications. A panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) comprises 75 percent of the vote, while an Instagram fan vote represents the remaining 25 percent of voting. NASR consists of members of print, television, radio, and online media.
