Ranking the Top 75 MLS Players of 2024: 2. Evander

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Evander is headed to FC Cincinnati after a flying stint with the Portland Timbers. He leaves on what is the largest in-league fee in Major League Soccer history, by a longshot. The $12m transfer was a part of a series of league-changing attacking midfielder moves. Evander will replace Luciano Acosta, who departed for Dallas, and David da Costa will fill the role in Portland. The 26-year-old posted an unreal 15 goals and 19 assists in 2024, 20 more goal contributions than his first season. He has cemented himself as one of the faces of the league after arriving from Midtjylland. In a new and maybe even improved situation across the country in Cincy, Evander is expected to do more of the same.

The Brazilian missed the season's kickoff, but scored a 90+7' winner in his very first appearance of the season, a sign of things to come. He scored and assisted in a great match against LAFC. A goal and assist in wins against San Jose and Sporting Kansas City followed. He added a winner over Austin. In the summer, he contributed to goals in 12 games out of 14. A pair of goal contributions led Portland over Real Salt Lake and Club Leon, in Leagues Cup. He scored a 90+9' goal against St. Louis to tie the match at four apiece. A brace and assist carried the Timbers past the Galaxy. He added another tally in a draw with RSL and assisted Antony for the equalizer in the Cascadia Cup. His final game in green was an ugly postseason loss to Vancouver.

Evander's 34 goal contributions marked a truly incredible season to leave Portland's fans with. He sent a heartfelt message to the Timbers' faithful per his departure. Even though the exit was not pretty, he assured fans that there was a lot of disrespect going on behind the scenes, leaving him no choice. He created 3.21 chances per 90, one of the highest numbers in MLS. He also averaged 0.42 xA a game and outperformed that number by quite a bit in output. He had the help of Jonathan Rodriguez, Felipe Mora and Santiago Moreno, and will now move on to Kevin Denkey, Luca Orellano and company. He also hit on 3.14 long balls per 90, one of his specialties. It will be strange to see him don the orange and blue, the 2025 season's kickoff cannot come soon enough. Evander comes in at No. 2.

2) EVANDER | MID, POR | PER 90 STATS (PERCENTILE)

19 ASSISTS

3.21 CHANCES CREATED PER 90 (98%)

0.42 xA PER 90 (98%)

3.14 ACCURATE LONG BALLS PER 90 (95%)