The MLS All-Stars held off a spirited Liga MX All-Stars comeback to earn a 4-3 win on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, in another wildly entertaining chapter of this summer showcase fixture.
For long stretches, the night felt like it belonged to the MLS side’s ruthless finishing. Liga MX All-Stars actually landed the first blow when Luis Gabriel Rey opened the scoring in the 9th minute, giving the visitors an early 1-0 advantage and quieting the home-heavy crowd.
That lead did not last long. Son Heung-Min turned the match on its head with a devastating two-goal burst, equalizing in the 20th minute before striking again in the 23rd minute to put MLS All-Stars in front 2-1. In the space of three minutes, the tempo shifted completely, with MLS suddenly slicing through the Liga MX back line whenever space opened up in transition.
The first half swung even further toward the MLS side in the 42nd minute, when Philip Zinckernagel added a third goal to cap an incisive move and send the hosts into the interval with a 3-1 cushion. It was a clinical opening 45 minutes from the MLS All-Stars, who made the most of their chances despite seeing less of the ball.
Liga MX All-Stars responded after the break and showed exactly why they remained dangerous throughout the night. Salomón Rondón pulled one back in the 55th minute, reducing the deficit to 3-2 and briefly putting real pressure on the MLS side. But the answer was immediate. Evander restored the two-goal margin in the 58th minute, finishing off another sharp MLS attack to make it 4-2.
Even then, the fixture was not settled. Liga MX All-Stars continued to push, finishing with 53.5 percent possession, 25 total shots and 16 shots on target. Their pressure eventually brought a late third goal through José Paradela in stoppage time at 90’+1′, but the MLS All-Stars had done enough to see out the result.
The final numbers underlined how open the match became. MLS All-Stars produced 13 shots, put eight on target and converted four times, while Liga MX All-Stars created a higher volume of chances but were left to rue the defensive lapses that proved decisive. Son Heung-Min’s brace at 20′ and 23′ set the tone, with Zinckernagel at 42′ and Evander at 58′ supplying the finishing touches.
In the end, this was exactly what an All-Star occasion should be: goals, momentum swings, attacking quality and a full-throttle atmosphere. MLS All-Stars got the win, but Liga MX All-Stars played their part in a seven-goal spectacle that kept the crowd engaged until the final whistle.
