Major League Soccer held their annual All-Star game this week down in Orlando, Florida, with the typical fanfare that accompanies such an event. The MLS side fell 3-0 to Atlético Madrid on Wednesday night, and while there might be some debate about whether MLS should continue playing against international competition or move back to an East vs West setup, there seemed to be some consensus about what transpired on Tuesday night.

The MLS All-Star Skills Challenge was finally brought back and should be here to stay — even expanded in the future. The format involved MLS players and three players from Atlético, and it even including some late drama, as the trio from host side Orlando City won the competition with the last kick of the ball. 

THE BUZZER BEATER! IT HAD TO BE @luisnani!

Orlando City win #MLSskills and $25,000 for @OrlandoCityFnd! pic.twitter.com/c2RkBhaJq9

— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) July 31, 2019

It was the first time since the early 2000s that the All-Star festivities included a skills competition. This year's format included three teams of three players competing against each other in three different challenges. The MLS team included Carlos Vela, Wayne Rooney, and Jonathan Dos Santos, while Nani led the Orlando City team. And Atlético were represented by Koke, João Félix, and Héctor Herrera. So there was plenty of star power to go around in an event that was meant to be a spectacle.

And the competition provided a platform for some of the biggest names on the planet to go out and have a bit of fun. These guys are competitors and wanted to win, giving them a chance to win money for charity. But it also gave the players a chance to showcase their talents in a more relaxed environment, where they could try some skills that aren't usually seen during the course of an actual soccer game.

In the future, though, there might be even more room to expand the competition. Bringing back the skills competition was something that plenty of people had pined for before, recalling the excitement that the various events brought in previous editions.

BRING IT BACK @MLS #SkillsComp #ThrowbackAllStar
#tbt pic.twitter.com/EIqOeCFCwI

— herculez gomez (@herculezg) July 26, 2018

The biggest event missing this year was the Goalie Wars, which pits two keepers situated near each other trying to get the ball passed the other. Keepers don't often get the spotlight in games unless they go above and beyond to get their team a result in the face of a barrage of shots. The Goalie Wars provides an avenue for the keepers to show off their ability, whether in making saves, chucking the ball at the opposing keeper, or trying to lace a half-volley against their opponent from about 25 yards out. 

With MLS about to expand to 26 teams next year, it might be about time to drop the outside competition from the All-Star game. With so many players to choose from now, the annual game can stand on its own within MLS, without the bump of having a world-renowned side to be the opponent. But the skills competition needs to become a staple once again, and Tuesday night's showcase seemed to make sure of that going forward.