With his last-gasp leveller in Cincinnati’s high-scoring draw with New York City on Wednesday, Evander wrote his name into the MLS record books.
Cincinnati’s Evander is officially an MLS history-maker
The ninth round of the Major League Soccer season delivered a new record this midweek, as FC Cincinnati’s Evander became the highest-scoring Brazil-born player in the league’s history.
How many goals has Evander scored in MLS?
Since arriving in U.S. soccer in December 2022, initially joining Portland Timbers, the 28‑year‑old has taken MLS by storm with his scoring output, boasting an exceptionally high strike rate. In three and a half years, the Rio de Janeiro native has racked up 44 goals in 95 appearances for the Timbers and ‘Cincy’.
On Wednesday, Evander reached his landmark tally with a stoppage-time penalty against New York City FC, in Cincinnati’s dramatic 4-4 draw in the Big Apple. The hosts had led 4-2 heading into stoppage time at Yankee Stadium, only for goals by Andrei Chirila and Evander to rescue a point for the Orange and Blue.
Evander’s MLS scoring record (appearances/goals):
- 2023: 27/9 - Portland
- 2024: 28/15 - Portland
- 2025: 32/18 - Cincinnati
- 2026: 8/2 - Cincinnati
- Total: 95/44
Watch Evander’s record-breaking goal:
Evander levels it from the spot! This game is wild! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/mdsybO4NHV
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 23, 2026
Evander breaks a nearly 30‑year‑old record
With his spot-kick against NYCFC, Evander overtook the Brazilian record previously held by Wélton, who scored 43 MLS goals across spells at three different teams. Wélton first arrived in MLS when he signed for the New England Revolution in 1996. Between 1997 and 2000, he then had stints at LA Galaxy and the now-defunct Miami Fusion.
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