Who Will Shape FC Cincinnati’s 2026 Attack up Front?
After a year defined by growth and attacking evolution, FC Cincinnati enters 2026 with a clearer sense of who drives its offense and where its ceiling might be. In their 2025 season, the club had two attackers who shaped the team's offense identity, Kevin Denkey and Evander da Silva Ferreira. Though they operate in different roles, their production last season formed the backbone of Cincinnati's attack. Denkey delivered the profile of a true striker, finishing chances with consistency and physical presence. At the same time, Evander emerged as the creative engine, driving the team forward from midfield with elite playmaking and scoring efficiency. Together, they elevated Cincinnati's attack and now carry the responsibility of defining what this team will become in 2026.
Denkey's first full season in Cincinnati showcased exactly why the club invested in him. Across 29 matches, he scored 15 goals, logged 2,282 minutes, and matched Evander with 0.59 goals per 90, a rate that places him among the most efficient strikers in MLS. His 13.4 expected goals and 36 shots on target reflect a striker who consistently gets into high-value positions and finishes at a reliable clip. Denkey's arrival ahead of the 2025 campaign marked the beginning of a new era for Cincinnati's forward line, and his immediate impact confirmed he is the club's long-term striker. Heading into 2026, he remains the primary scoring outlet and the player Cincinnati will lean on to convert the chances created around him.
Evander, meanwhile, delivered one of the most complete attacking seasons in MLS. In 2025, he appeared in 32 matches, scored 18 goals, and added 15 assists, leading Cincinnati in both categories. His 53 shots on target, 33 chances created, and 2,744 minutes played illustrate his influence as both a scorer and facilitator. Despite being listed as a midfielder, his production rivals that of elite forwards, and his ability to dictate tempo, break lines, and create danger from anywhere in the attacking third makes him the heartbeat of Cincinnati's offense. After joining the club in 2025, he immediately became the system's centerpiece, the player who makes everyone around him better.
Outside of Cincinnati's two lead attacking players, reserve-roster veteran Kei Kamara adds experience and depth to the forward pool after joining the club last season, even if his role for 2026 remains supportive rather than central. Together, Denkey and Evander form one of the most balanced attacking duos in the league. Denkey provides the finishing presence Cincinnati has long needed, while Evander supplies the creativity and unpredictability that unlock defenses. Their combined 33 goals and 15 assists in 2025 set the foundation for a 2026 campaign built around their chemistry. If Cincinnati is to take another step forward this season, it will be because Denkey continues to grow into a dominant MLS striker and Evander maintains his role as the club's attacking architect. The question isn't whether they can define Cincinnati's attack, but how far their partnership can take the club.
