The 2026 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T is in the books!
Three MLS NEXT Pro stars soaked up the spotlight at Truist Field in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Houston Dynamo 2 goalkeeper Pedro Cruz battled Canada World Cup 'keeper Maxime Crépeau to a thrilling final in this year's reimagined Goalie Wars format. En route, he took on Huntsville City FC's Will Mackay, who made his Goalie Wars debut.
North Texas SC's Edouard Nys joined the Crossbar Challenge presented by Gillette, representing the first-ever MLS NEXT Pro field player to take part in the Skills Challenge.
Here's a closer look at their respective All-Star moments.
The 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Goalie Wars champion made it all the way to the final after besting Mackay and Liga MX's Carlos Moreno in thrilling fashion.
Taking on Crépeau in the final, Cruz rallied to make things interesting in the closing seconds but had to settle for a narrow 3-2 defeat.
Cruz has been a massive part of the reason Dynamo Dos are battling for the top seed in the Western Conference.
Watch his return against Sporting KC II on Friday at 8 PM ET (MLSNEXTPro.com | OneFootball).
Taking on Cruz in the opening round was a tall task, and Mackay nearly seized the opportunity by scoring first.
Tied up 2-2 as the clock ticked to the end of the round, Cruz sent in the bonus ball to make it 4-2, leaving no time to respond.
Mackay returns to HCFC action on Saturday, hosting Eastern Conference heavyweights Crown Legacy FC (MLSNEXTPro.com | OneFootball).
NTSC's newcomer took part in the Crossbar Challenge and took care of business against Toluca's Federico Pereira 3-1 before falling to former MLS NEXT Pro wunderkind Zavier Gozo.
Nys and North Texas SC are battling to make the MLS NEXT Pro Cup playoffs. They continue that when they travel to Ventura County FC for a big six-pointer on Saturday at 10 PM (MLSNEXTPro.com | OneFootball).
