- Luciano Acosta is FC Cincinnati’s all-time leading scorer.
- Brandon Vazquez ranks second on that list with 32 goals in MLS play.
- Matt Miazga won MLS Defender of the Year in Cincinnati’s best season.
FC Cincinnati is one of Major League Soccer’s newer clubs, beginning play in 2019 after three successful seasons in the United Soccer League.
After being afterthoughts in the soccer odds to win the MLS Cup in its first two campaigns, FC Cincinnati has turned things around, reaching the postseason the last three years and winning the 2023 Supporters’ Shield. It is now a legitimate contender in the MLS betting market.
The club is still writing its early history, but below, I’ll rank the five best FC Cincinnati players in its MLS era thus far.
5 Best FC Cincinnati MLS Players, Ranked
| Rank | Player | Position | FC Cincinnati Years |
| 1 | Luciano Acosta | Midfielder | 2021-2024 |
| 2 | Brandon Vazquez | Forward | 2020-2023 |
| 3 | Matt Miazga | Defender | 2022-Present |
| 4 | Yuya Kubo | Forward | 2020-Present |
| 5 | Nick Hagglund | Defender | 2019-Present |
FC Cincinnati All-Time Greatest Players
1. Luciano Acosta
Acosta made his MLS breakthrough with D.C. United, but his impact in Cincinnati will not soon be forgotten.
The Argentine attacking midfielder joined FC Cincinnati in 2021 following a two-season stint in Liga MX and quickly became its most important creative player. Acosta was recognized as the 2023 MLS MVP after scoring 17 goals, providing 14 assists, and leading the team to the Supporters’ Shield, its first hardware.
FC Cincy’s all-time leading scorer delivered double-digit goals and assists in three straight seasons (2022-2024), earning MLS All-Star and Best XI nods in each campaign, and helped spearhead the franchise’s reversal of fortunes.
2. Brandon Vazquez
Vazquez wasn’t as consistent as Acosta during his four seasons at the club, but his 2022 peak rivaled that of his teammate.
The California native scored a club-record 18 goals in MLS play that campaign and added eight assists en route to his first career MLS All-Star and Best XI recognition.
Vazquez didn’t hit those same heights in the Supporters’ Shield-winning campaign before moving to Liga MX side Monterrey in January 2024.
3. Matt Miazga
Miazga’s career has been intriguing.
The American centre back debuted in MLS for the New York Red Bulls in 2013 at 18 years old, secured a move to English Premier League side Chelsea FC at 20, and found a home in Cincinnati nearly a decade later.
Miazga made a massive impact in his first full season with the club, playing 27 matches in a defence that conceded just 28 goals when he was on the field. He anchored the back line in Cincy’s best MLS season and was named the league’s Defender of the Year.
A knee injury cost Miazga the second half of the 2024 season and forced him to miss the start of the 2025 campaign. Given his importance to the team, I must account for his presence when I place an FC Cincinnati bet online.
4. Yuya Kubo
Kubo is FC Cincinnati’s most capped player in MLS, making over 130 league appearances during his first five seasons with the club.
He signed from Belgian side KAA Gent as the first Japanese Designated Player in MLS history and has been a consistent and energetic presence in the squad despite being deployed in several positions.
Kubo delivered his best statistical season last year, producing 10 goals and two assists to help Cincy finish third in the Eastern Conference.
5. Nick Hagglund
Hagglund, a Cincinnati native, was traded to his hometown club before its inaugural MLS campaign and has been a mainstay ever since.
The 6-foot-1 centre back ranks second behind Kubo in MLS appearances for the club and was one of the first names on the team sheet during its better seasons, making 57 starts across 2022 and 2023.
Although Hagglund played most of last season in a reserve role, he remains a fan favourite.
