Ranking the Top 75 MLS Players of 2024: 62. Yuya Kubo

Link to Rankings Hub

There are very few players in the sport of football that will contribute greatly to the attack and put in a tireless defensive shift in a given match. Yuya Kubo is one of those players. Since arriving in Cincinnati, Kubo has shown out as positionless player. He has played at wingback, on the wings, in every aspect of central midfield and as a second striker as well. In 2024, Kubo had a breakout season offensively, scoring 10 goals compared to the four he scored in his previous four seasons. He simply did it all.

Kubo's first goal of the season was a strange one that barely even crossed the line and touched zero net in New England. He scored with a clean finish in Montreal. Kubo was then the beneficiary of some Lucho Acosta magic and roofed the ensuing shot.

The highlight of his season, and probably one of the highlights of the entire MLS season, was his 26-minute cameo against San Jose. Kubo entered the game in the 64th minute and the Earthquakes grabbed a 2-1 lead. In the 78th minute, he calmly slipped the equalizer home with the left foot. One minute later, a series of small Acosta touches fell to Kubo for the match-winner. In less than 10 minutes, Kubo completed an entire hat trick in the 4-2 win.

Another fabulous performance was a brace against Inter Miami during a statement 6-1 bulldozing. Kubo opened the scoring and helped put the icing on the cake later on. In September, a sliding finish took the lead in Minnesota. He also assisted the winner in that game with a breath-taking backheel flick to Luca Orellano.

Kubo deserves all the respect in the world for his attacking contributions, but what he brings in the midfield and tracking back might be even more impressive. He recovers over four balls, wins 1.22 tackles and intercepts 0.64 balls per 90 minutes, which is truly unheard of for a player at his position. He also spends a lot of time on the ball and completes many passes over the course of a game. Kubo is exactly the kind of player than any team would want to have, a utility guy that does whatever it takes to win. Kubo's incredible 2024 campaign earns him No. 62.

62) YUYA KUBO | FWD, FCC | PER 90 STATS (PERCENTILE)

26.3 SUCCESSFUL PASSES PER 90 (93%)

1.22 TACKLES WON PER 90 (94%)

4.13 RECOVERIES PER 90 (93%)

0.64 INTERCEPTIONS PER 90 (91%)