Back in January, when the possibility of Evander taking Lucho Acosta’s place as the team’s creative engine suddenly became real, I wondered: Why would FC Cincinnati exchange one wantaway star No. 10 for another? Acosta had spent the offseason publicly campaigning for an exit and questioning the front office while also winning the Tone Deafness Award for initiating his exit push in the minutes after FCC’s season ended in the first round to New York City.
Meanwhile, Evander, who notched 34 goal contributions in 28 league games last year, was similarly peeved in Portland. The Timbers were whitewashed by Vancouver 5-0 in their single-elimination wild card matchup. In 2023, Evander’s first year with the club, Portland finished one point out of playoff positioning. In four full seasons with Midtjylland in the Danish first division, he’d finished first once and second three times.
I think it’s safe to assume that the Brazilian playmaker didn’t upend his life and move 5,000 miles from Denmark to the Pacific Northwest to play for a middling club. In the aftermath of the playoff loss to Vancouver, Evander took to social media to apologize to fans for the defeat but also to call out “the people who have power over this club.”
Later reports indicated that in the presence of Portland General Manager Ned Grabavoy, Head Coach Phil Neville, and Timbers players, Evander singled out Grabavoy as the cause of the playoff loss. Grabavoy and Neville responded with public criticism of Evander—who was also in the midst of a contract dispute with the club—and the relationship was broken. In divorce legalese, the cause of Evander and Portland’s split would have been “irreconcilable differences.”
Can you forgive my trepidation, particularly when the cost of acquiring Evander turned out to be $12 million? Well, six months later, the Acosta-for-Evander swap looks to be a short- and long-term slam dunk for General Manager Chris Albright. Even after failing to log a goal contribution for the first time in five games in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake, Evander is an MVP frontrunner. The 27-year-old’s 23 goal contributions (15 goals, 8 assists) are third in the league.
As for Acosta, who turned 31 in May, he has more yellow cards (eight) than goal contributions (six) in 20 league matches. Evander, who entered 2025 having played 8,000 fewer career minutes than Acosta, is signed through 2027 with a club option for 2028.
Evander has maintained his strong form despite numerous on-field obstacles. His transfer wasn’t finalized until February 17, just two days before the Orange and Blue’s season opener in Honduras. So there was no time to form a partnership with new FCC striker Kevin Denkey, himself a big-money acquisition; Luca Orellano, who’d been moved to attacking winger; or midfielders Pavel Bucha and Obinna Nwobodo, who would be tasked with covering for Evander defensively and linking with him offensively.
The clunkiness that defined the offense for much of the spring has eased in the summer, aided by two lengthy breaks between matches that permitted more training time. Yet FC Cincinnati won’t fully hum until the fall—and possibly not until the 2026 preseason. The current MLS points leaders might win their second Supporters’ Shield in three seasons anyway.
I do worry that FCC’s goals allowed (31) and goals scored (39) totals are indicative of an Eastern Conference middleweight and not a heavyweight. But that’s where the Evander Difference kicks in. There are nights where he can fool experienced Orlando goalkeeper Pedro Gallese with an expert free kick in a 2-1 win and score a brace in a 3-0 win over Inter Miami four days after a humiliating loss to Columbus. He has that same match-winner magic that Acosta once possessed.
Evander represents FCC in tonight’s MLS All-Star Game. On Saturday night in Miami, he’ll have a chance to cement his MVP bonafides in another matchup against Lionel Messi.
Grant Freking writes FC Cincinnati coverage for Cincinnati Magazine. You can follow him on X at @GrantFreking.
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