One of the most delightful things about MLS, in my view, is that the league still features a slew of elite No. 10s.<\/p>\n
Of course, attacking midfielders still exist all over the world, popping up in half-spaces and providing must-see moments. But the way MLS\u2019s crop of top-tier central playmakers often run a game is unique. As chief soccer officers across the league tend to allocate far more spending towards the attack than the defense, there\u2019s plenty of room for free-roaming, game-breaking No. 10s to take over a match, bend the opposition\u2019s structure, and beat individual defenders.<\/p>\n
Two of those elite No. 10s soon meet in the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs: FC Cincinnati<\/a> and Evander<\/a> host Inter Miami CF<\/a> and Lionel Messi<\/a> on Nov. 23 at TQL Stadium (5 pm ET | MLS Season Pass, Apple TV<\/a>).<\/p>\n Just what have those two players brought to their teams this year? And which club has the edge in their upcoming postseason meeting? Let\u2019s dive in.<\/p>\n Besting Messi in even a single attacking category is something worth writing home about \u2013 and Evander did exactly that on set pieces this year. The Brazilian is the only player in MLS to record more set-piece goals (three) than Messi (two), according to American Soccer Analysis\u2019 data.<\/p>\n Evander\u2019s penchant for producing magic in big moments helped him maintain his status as one of the league\u2019s truly elite attackers. Fresh off an MLS-record trade from the Portland Timbers<\/a> to FC Cincinnati, Evander posted 33 goal contributions (18g\/15a) in 2025, marking his second straight season with 30-plus goal contributions. Only Messi and San Diego FC<\/a>\u2019s Anders Dreyer<\/a> boasted more combined goals and assists in this year\u2019s regular season.<\/p>\n Those attacking contributions have mattered more than most, too, thanks to Cincy’s penchant for keeping games close.<\/p>\n During the regular season, Pat Noonan\u2019s team won an impressive 20 games. They won a staggering 16 of those by a single goal. Their two postseason wins in a hotly contested Round One series against arch-rivals Columbus Crew<\/a>? Both came by a single goal. Winning tight is, apparently, the FC Cincinnati way \u2013 and it\u2019s made much easier when you have an all-around weapon floating between the lines of your attack.<\/p>\n Among his positional peers on a per-90-minute basis, as per FBref\u2019s data, Evander ranks in the…<\/p>\n 99th percentile for non-penalty goals Whether on a dead ball or in open play, defenses can\u2019t afford to take their eyes off Evander.<\/p>\n With some players, you have to squint to see their impact. With others, you have to squint so as not to be blinded by the sheer brilliance of their impact. Messi, you won\u2019t be surprised to find out, falls into that second category. It won\u2019t be long until the Argentine icon becomes the first player to win back-to-back Landon Donovan MLS MVP awards. And this season for Inter Miami? He\u2019s been absurdly, historically good.<\/p>\n Only one player in MLS history notched more goal contributions over a single season than Messi did in 2025 \u2013 his 48 were one behind Carlos Vela\u2019s miraculous 2019 campaign for LAFC<\/a>.<\/p>\n Messi has been on another planet all year long, somehow putting together the league\u2019s best-ever individual season for Inter Miami while also experiencing the busiest schedule any MLS team has ever seen. Between their Concacaf Champions Cup<\/a> run, four games at the FIFA Club World Cup<\/a>, their Leagues Cup<\/a> campaign, regular-season play, and advancing in this year\u2019s playoffs, Inter Miami have already played a record 55 games across all competitions.<\/p>\n Messi has been transformative for Miami through it all, including their Round One Best-of-3 Series dispatch of Nashville SC<\/a>. Whether playing off the right shoulder of Luis Su\u00e1rez<\/a> or acting as more of a line-leader amid Su\u00e1rez\u2019s Game 3 absence, Messi was the most dominant player in any Round One series, boasting a postseason-leading eight goal contributions (5g\/3a).<\/p>\n Even with Nashville head coach B.J. Callaghan shifting his team\u2019s defensive shape from a 4-2-2-2 to a 4-3-3 in hopes of keeping Messi quiet through the middle, the No. 10 still took over the series. He may just torment Cincinnati’s defense next.<\/p>\n FC Cincinnati have a few things going for them in their Eastern Conference Semifinal battle with Inter Miami. They have the luxury of playing at home in front of a raucous TQL Stadium crowd, have a more balanced team that defends with relative consistency from back to front, and picked up four points against Miami across their two regular-season meetings this year (though Messi only played in one of those games).<\/p>\n Still, I can\u2019t get myself to pick against Messi and Inter Miami.<\/p>\n With one of the best attacks MLS has ever seen (they rank third in xG per game in American Soccer Analysis\u2019 entire database, which goes back to 2013), this year\u2019s Miami team can hit a level that none of their peers can, including Cincinnati. As Nashville found out first-hand, Messi can take over a game more quickly than any player this league has ever seen: his opening goal in Game 3 was a moment of individual brilliance.<\/p>\n
\n92nd percentile for expected assists
\n89th percentile for progressive passes
\n93rd percentile for through balls
\n95th percentile for passes into the penalty area<\/p>\n