FC Cincinnati midfielder Evander named MLS Player of the Month for July and August 2026

FC Cincinnati midfielder Evander has been named the MLS Player of the Month for July and August 2026, the league announced today. 

The Brazilian star won his second consecutive MLS Player of the Month award, after he earned the nod for May. He has become the first player in MLS since 2023 to earn back-to-back MLS Player of the Month awards since Luciano ‘Lucho’ Acosta did, also for FC Cincinnati, in July and then August.

Evander’s Player of the Month honor is the third of his career (August/September 2024 w/POR; May 2026) and the seventh FC Cincinnati Player of the Month Award (Luciano Acosta – June 2022, July 2023, August 2023, May 2024; Brenner – September/October 2022; Evander – May 2026, July/August 2026).

Evander’s nine goal contributions (four goals, five assists) in seven MLS matches were tied for first in MLS during the months of July and August. His five assists were tied for the second most in the league, while his four goals were tied for the fourth most. Of Cincinnati’s 13 goals in July and August, Evander scored or assisted on 69 percent of them, which was the highest percentage in MLS (minimum of five goal contributions).

The Brazilian midfielder also had several of his patented clutch moments, which included a game-winning assist against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on July 22 and a late game-winning goal from distance against San Jose Earthquakes on August 1, which was the MLS Goal of the Matchday. On August 19, Evander gave FC Cincinnati a dramatic, late win over New York City FC with his 90’+2 game-winning goal.

Throughout the months of July and August, Evander set several MLS and club records. On August 1, he produced four goal contributions and became the fifth-fastest player in MLS history to reach 100 regular-season goal contributions, doing so in just 104 matches. In that same match, he also became the first player in FC Cincinnati history to record an assist in five straight MLS games. With another 10-plus goal and 10-plus assist season, Evander is one of five players in league history to do this in three straight seasons, alongside Lionel Messi (2024-26), Luciano Acosta (2022-24), Hany Mukhtar (2021-23), and Preki (1996-1998).

In 2026, Evander has now totaled 13 goals and 11 assists in 21 MLS Regular Season matches. Across all MLS players he ranks second in goal contributions (24), tied for first in assists (11), and tied for fourth in goals scored (13). The Landon Donovan MLS MVP contender has produced 57 goal contributions in 53 regular-season games since FC Cincinnati acquired him prior to the 2025 season. In FC Cincinnati history, he ranks either second or third in most major categories – goals, assists, goal contributions, and more.

Evander and FC Cincinnati return to TQL Stadium this Saturday, September 5 when the Orange and Blue host D.C. United at 7:30 p.m. ET. Tickets are available at FCCincinnati.com/Tickets or by calling 513-977-KICK.

MLS Player of the Month is voted upon by a group of select national and local media members in a process conducted by MLS Communications. The award was not given in June during the pause for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.