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AUSTIN, TX– MLS All Stars were victorious 6-5 in a hard fought battle against the Liga MX All Stars in the 2025 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge.
MLS All Stars managed to win the shooting challenge, the passing challenge & the crossbar challenge. They tied the cross & volley challenge, lost the touch challenge to Liga MX.
The 2025 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge kicked off at 9:00 p.m. ET at Q2 Stadium to a crowd of 18,000.
MLS lineup versus Liga MX lineup in 2025 MLS Skills Challenge
MLS Participating All Stars: | Obed Vargas – Seattle Sounders, Sebastian Berhalter – Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Denis Bouanga – LAFC, Anders Dreyer – San Diego FC, Evander – FC Cincinnati, Alex Freeman – Orlando City, Diego Luna – Real Salt Lake, Sam Surridge – Nashville SC, Brad Stuver – Austin FC, Yohei Takoaka – Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Clint Dempsey – MLS Great, Lindsey Heaps – USWNT Star, & iShowSpeed – Youtuber/Streamer
MLS NEXT Pro All Stars: | Eldin Jakupović – Chattanooga FC, Pedro Cruz – Houston Dynamo 2, Carlos Mercado – Orlando City B, Adisa De Rosario – Toronto FC II
Liga BBVA MX Participating All Stars:| Juan Brunetta – Tigres UANL, Sergio Canales – CF Monterrey, Rodrigo Dourado – Atlético San Luis, Luan Garcia – Toluca, Luis Malagón – Club América, Kevin Mier – Cruz Azul, Gilberto Mora – Club Tijuana, Brian Rodríguez – Club América, Ángel Sepúlveda – Cruz Azul, Alejandro Zendejas – Club América, Nicki Hernández – LIGA MX Femenil, & Oribe Peralta – LIGA MX Great
DNP: Jordi Alba – Inter Miami CF, James Rodríguez – León
MLS versus Liga MX in 2025 MLS Skills Challenge
The jam-packed event at Q2 Stadium kicked off a little after 8:00pm CT after introductions of the MLS Participating All Stars, & Liga BBVA MX Participating All Stars.
MLS All-Star Goalie Wars featuring MLS NEXT Pro goalkeepers
MLS NEXT Pro Goalie Wars Roster
Taking place in this years edition of the MLS All-Star Goalie Wars were Eldin Jakupović of Chattanooga FC, Pedro Cruz of Houston Dynamo 2, Carlos Mercado of Orlando City B, & Adisa De Rosario of Toronto FC II.
The first semi-final matchup was Houston Dynamo 2 goalkeeper Pedro Cruz versus Adisa De Rosario of Toronto FC II. The contest leaned comfortably in favor of the Houston keeper as after the 1-minute & 30 second timer, Cruz won the contest 5-1 versus De Rosario.
The second semi-final matchup was Eldin Jakupović of Chattanooga FC versus Carlos Mercado of Orlando City B. Jakupović & Mercado had a back-and-forth contest that was broken after the initial 30 seconds by Mercado to give him the lead. Less than 12 seconds later, Mercado added to his lead to make it 2-0 to Orlando. Jakupović pulled one back with just 10 seconds to go but with less than 5 seconds to go, Mercado added to his lead once again. After the 1-minute & 30 second timer, Mercado held on for a 4-1 victory over Jakupović to advance to the Goalie Wars final.
The Goalie Wars final was between Carlos Mercado of Orlando City B & Pedro Cruz of Houston Dynamo 2. Pedro Cruz started the competition off with the first effort that was met with a save by goalkeeper Carlos Mercado. Cruz’ next shot went into the top corner to make it 1-0. Just moments later, Mercado took a shot and leveled it 1-1. Less than a second later, Cruz took the lead again with a Half-volley attempt. The next 30-seconds were back-and-forth between the duo until Cruz scored yet another goal to make it 3-1. Mercado then scored to make it 3-2. Cruz clinched the victory after a goal went through the legs of Mercado to make it 4-2 with less than 5 seconds to go, and then Cruz essentially allowed Mercado a free-goal after securing a 4-3 victory in the MLS NEXT Pro Goalkeeper Wars.
MLS All-Star Shooting Challenge presented by AT&T
A new record in the #MLSAllStar Shooting Challenge pres. by @ATT! 🏅
Evander leads us to victory in round 1 of the Skills Challenge pres. by @ATT. ✅ pic.twitter.com/hOA2q2OHvL
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 23, 2025
Taking place in this year’s edition of the MLS All-Star Shooting Challenge were Lindsey Heaps of the USWNT, Diego Luna of Real Salt Lake, Evander of FC Cincinnati, Nicki Hernández of LIGA MX Femenil, Luan García of Toluca, & Sergio Canales of Monterrey.
iShowSpeed kicked off the shooting challenge by knocking down 4 targets for 25-points after a 1-minute & 30 second timer.
Luan García of Toluca then stepped up and knocked down 2 targets for 15 points after a 1-minute timer.
Diego Luna of Real Salt Lake then stepped up for the MLS All-Stars and knocked down 4 targets for 25 points after a 1-minute timer to give MLS the 25-15 point lead after round 1.
Nicki Hernández of LIGA MX Femenil stepped up for LIGA MX All-Stars in round 2 and knocked down 5 targets for 27 points after a 1-minute timer.
Lindsey Heaps of the USWNT then stepped up for MLS All-Stars in round 2 and knocked down 5 targets for 35 points after a 1-minute timer to give the MLS the 50-42 point lead after round 2.
Sergio Canales of Monterrey stepped up for LIGA MX All-Stars in round 3 and knocked down 8 targets for 64 points after a 1-minute timer.
Evander of FC Cincinnati stepped up for the MLS All-Stars in Round 3 and knocked down 9 targets for a score of 72 after a 1-minute timer to complete the sweep for the MLS All-Stars to give them a 122-106 score and win the shooting challenge for the MLS All-Stars.
MLS All-Star Touch Challenge presented by Old Spice
Views from the #MLSAllStar Touch Challenge pres. by @OldSpice. 📸 pic.twitter.com/hskPgZlfiH
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 23, 2025
Taking place in this year’s edition of the MLS All-Star Shooting Challenge were Denis Bouanga of LAFC, Sam Surridge of Nashville SC, Evander of FC Cincinnati, Anders Dreyer of San Diego FC, Brian Rodríguez of Club América, Alejandro Zendejas of Club América,
In round of 1 of the touch challenge, Obed Vargas & Denis Bouanga were able to score 4 times for the MLS All-Stars to secure a total of 29-points.
In their first round of the touch challenge Brian Rodríguez of Club América & Alejandro Zendejas of Club América were able to score 9 times for the Liga MX All-Stars to secure a total of 120 points, giving Liga MX a 120-29 point lead.
In round 2 of the touch challenge, Evander of FC Cincinnati & Anders Dreyer of San Diego FC were able to score 3 times for a total of 29 points to bring the MLS All-Stars to a score of 59.
In their second round of the touch challenge, Luan Garcia of Toluca & Ángel Sepúlveda of Cruz Azul combined for 7 scores to bring their total points to 109 & securing a dominant victory for Liga MX 199-58 over MLS All-Stars.
MLS All-Star Cross & Volley Challenge presented by AT&T
Denis Bouanga delivering in the clutch. 💪#MLSAllStar Cross & Volley Challenge pres. by @ATT. pic.twitter.com/jNIg3UhqS4
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 23, 2025
Gilberto Mora of Club Tijuana stepped up to start the challenge and managed to bury 4 goals past Vancouver Whitecaps FC goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka after a 1-minute timer for a massive 50 points for Liga MX.
Sam Surridge of Nashville SC stepped up for the MLS and managed to bury 2 goals past Club América goalkeeper Luis Malagón after a 1-minute timer for 25 points, giving Liga MX the 50-25 point lead entering the 2nd round.
Ángel Sepúlveda of Cruz Azul stepped up for Liga MX and managed to bury 1 goal past Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver after a 1-minute timer for 15 points, giving Liga MX a 70-25 point lead entering the final go for the MLS All-Stars.
Denis Bouanga of Los Angeles FC stepped up for the MLS All-Stars and managed to bury 4 goals past Cruz Azul goalkeeper Kevin Mier after a 1-minute timer for 55 points, ending the matchup in a 70-70 tie with Liga MX.
MLS All-Star Passing Challenge presented by Bounty
🇧🇷 Evander putting on an absolute clinic in the #MLSAllStar Passing Challenge pres. by @Bounty. 👏 pic.twitter.com/7YB6myZwbb
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 23, 2025
Taking place in this year’s edition of the MLS All-Star Passing Challenge were MLS Legend Clint Dempsey, Evander of FC Cincinnati, Rodrigo Dourado of Atlético San Luis & Liga MX legend Oribe Peralta.
In the first go around of the Challenge, MLS Legend Clint Dempsey managed to get through 4-targets while Liga MX legend Oribe Peralta only managed to get through 2 targets to give MLS All-Stars the 1-0 advantage.
In the second go around of the Challenge, Evander of FC Cincinnati managed to get through 5-targets to secure the win the challenge for MLS All-Stars while Liga MX’s Rodrigo Dourado of Atlético San Luis got through 4-targets and fell just short.
In the third go around of the challenge, Sebastian Berhalter of Vancouver Whitecaps FC managed to get through 2-targets to secure the win for MLS All-Stars while Liga MX’s Alejandro Zendejas of Club América managed to get through 5-targets to score the final round victory for Liga MX.
Due to the fact that the MLS All-Stars won round 1 & round 2, they win the best 2 out of 3 and win the challenge outright.
iShowSpeed then took on Orlando City’s Alex Freeman in the passing challenge. Freeman went on to win the challenge 5-2.
MLS All-Star Crossbar Challenge presented by Gillette
YOHEI TAKOAKA FOR THE MLS WIN! 😱#MLSAllStar Crossbar Challenge pres. by @Gillette. pic.twitter.com/HGH7G56Xj1
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 23, 2025
Taking place in this year’s edition of the MLS All-Star Crossbar Challenge every players from Liga MX & MLS All-Star team participated.
Denis Bouanga managed to strike the crossbar with his first effort of the crossbar challenge to make it 4-2.
Nicki Hernández managed to strike the crossbar in her first and second effort in the crossbar challenge to level the scoreline at 4-4.
Denis Bouanga then managed to strike the crossbar with his third effort in the crossbar challenge to make it 5-4 to the MLS All Stars & advance the MLS All-Stars to zone 2.
A Liga MX player then struck the crossbar to level the scoreline at 5-5 which advanced Liga MX to zone 2.
Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka then managed to strike the crossbar from zone 2 to make it 6-5 and win the competition for the MLS All-Stars.
MLS All-Stars versus LIGA MX All-Stars.
MLS and LIGA MX competed on behalf of 4ATX Foundation and MAS Cultura, resulting in a $25,000 donation to both of their respective charities.
The MLS All-Stars take on the LIGA MX All-Stars on Wednesday, July 23rd at 9:00pm EST at Q2 Stadium.
For more MLS action, you can find everything via MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app.
For more Liga MX action, you can find everything via ESPN+.
