Major League Soccer’s All-Stars beat Liga MX in the 2025 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge on Tuesday, July 22 at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas.
Los Angeles FC’s Denis Bouanga hit both shots from Zone 1, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC goalkeeper Yohei Takoaka hit the game-winner in the crossbar challenge to secure the 4-2 victory in the skills exhibition.
“I feel great. It’s such an honor to be here, and I’m really happy,” Takoaka said after the win.
The MLS All-Stars hope to pull off the double victory against Liga MX during the All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 23.
Former U.S. men’s national team star Clint Dempsey and current U.S. women’s national team captain Lindsey Heaps also helped MLS secure the victory, while popular YouTube personality and streamer Speed brought attention to the event by participating.
“Austin has definitely showed up and showed up,” Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver said after the event.
Check out these highlights from the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge:
Watch 2025 MLS All-Star
MLS beats Liga MX in 2025 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge
LAFC’s Denis Bounaga hit both shots from Zone 1, and Vancouver FC goalkeeper Yohei Takoaka hit the game-winner to help the MLS All-Stars beat the Liga MX All-Stars in the skills challenge.
“I feel great. It’s such an honor to be here, and I’m really happy,” Takoaka said after the win.
Clint Dempsey, Evander helps MLS beat Liga MX in Passing Challenge
USMNT legend Clint Dempsey beat Orie Peralta 4-3 in the first round, but struggled to hit the final spot hitting the post several times. Cincinnati’s Evander beat Rodrigo Dourado 5-4 in the second round to secure the point in the passing challenge.
Alejandro Zendejas (Club América) beat Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver FC) in the final round.
MLS leads Liga MX, 3-2, heading into the final portion of the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge.
Who won the Goalie Wars final at MLS All-Star Challenge?
Pedro Cruz (Houston Dynamo II) beat Carlos Mercado (Orlando City B) 4-3 in the Goalie Wars final.
MLS and Liga MX draw in Cross & Volley Challenge
Gilberto Mora, a 16-year-old for Club Tijuana and the Mexican national team in the Gold Cup final, scored 50 points to begin the Cross & Volley Challenge.
Austin FC goalie Brad Stuver gave the home fans something to cheer about by limiting Ángel Sepúlveda (Cruz Azul) to 15 points.
And LAFC’s Denis Bouanga scored 45 points to help MLS tie with Liga MX at 70 points.
Both teams earned a point in the challenge, and are tied 2-2 heading into the final stage – the passing challenge.
Liga MX teammates set record in touch challenge
Club América teammates Alejandro Zendejas and Brian Rodríguez set the All-Star touch challenge record with 120 points during their round.
Liga MX beat MLS 199-58 during the touch challenge to take the second point of the All-Star Challenge.
Evander sets new MLS All-Star shooting challenge record
Cincinnati’s Evander, a favorite alongside Lionel Messi to win MLS MVP this season, set the shooting challenge record with 72 points. He helped MLS beat Liga MX, 132-106, to take the first point of the All-Star Challenge.
Evander beat Hector Herrara’s previous record of 65 points, set in 2022.
CF Monterrey’s Sergio Canales scored 64 points during his round, before Evander set the new mark.
USWNT star shines in MLS Shooting challenge
Lindsey Heaps, of the U.S. women’s national team, scored 35 points during the shooting challenge.
How did iShowSpeed do in MLS All-Star challenge?
The streamer also known as Speed scored 25 points during the shooting challenge.
Goalie Wars kicks off the action
Pedro Cruz (Houston Dynamo II) will meet Carlos Mercado (Orlando City B) in the Goalie Wars final.
Cruz beat Adisa De Rosario (Toronto FC II) 5-2 in the first semifinal, while Mercado (Orlando City B) beat Eldin Jakupović (Chattanooga FC) 4-1 in the second match.
MLS All-Stars vs. Liga MX All-Star Skills Challenge rosters
(Italics indicate goalkeeper)
MLS All-Stars
- 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
- Obed Vargas – Seattle Sounders
- Clint Dempsey – MLS great
- Lindsey Heaps – USWNT Star
Liga MX All-Stars
- Juan Brunetta – Tigres UANL
- Sergio Canales – CF Monterrey
- Rodrigo Dourado – Atlético San Luis
- Luis Malagón – Club América
- Kevin Mier – Cruz Azul
- Paulinho – Toluca
- Brian Rodríguez – Club América
- James Rodríguez – Club León
- Alexis Vega – Toluca
- Alejandro Zendejas – Club América
- Nicki Hernández – Liga MX Femenil
- Oribe Peralta – Liga MX Great
When is the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge?
- When: Tuesday, July 22
- Where: Q2 Stadium (Austin, Texas)
- Time: 9 p.m. ET
- Channel/streaming: Apple TV (Watch here)
MLS All-Star Skills Challenge events
- Shooting Challenge
- Touch Challenge
- Cross & Volley Challenge
- Crossbar Challenge
- Passing Challenge
- Goalie Wars
IShowSpeed will rep MLS in Skills Challenge
MLS announced that the YouTube personality and social media influencer will participate in the All-Star Skills Challenge.
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