Meet Yuya Kubo, the utilityman who does it all for FC Cincinnati

The following weekend, Kubo dropped into central midfield, controlling the space and pace of the game against New York City FC. A week later, he was up in the attack again against the New York Red Bulls, scoring a goal as a second striker. 

Kubo is already a rare athlete, but the 30-year-old is special among utility players, too. That's because he is one of the few who is truly elite, not merely passable, in all the positions he plays. His flexibility was a key part of Cincinnati's trophy-winning 2023 season and the secret powering its solid 2024.

"Actions speak louder than words, and that's what you see from [Kubo]," longtime MLS player Ray Gaddis said. "Whatever is asked of him, he exemplifies and goes above and beyond for this group. Kubo leads by example. He comes in every day and works his butt off, and I think that rubs off on the rest of the team, no matter how old or experienced they are."

Utility players have a long history in soccer. Often used as off-the-bench substitutes, they are selected for their fitness and trained to be capable performers in a team's defense, midfield and attack.

While they're not as strong as their specialized teammates in each unique position, their ability to jump into any situation makes them valuable. David Alaba — Real Madrid's Austrian star — is one of the best utilitymen of the era. He has played all over the field for Madrid, comfortably slotting into any role required of him.

MLS' rigor and physicality mean utility players don't tend to thrive in the United States. League coaches often prefer dedicated excellence in one part of the field over plug-and-play flexibility.

Kubo, however, is the only true utility player of his type in MLS, and he's not content to simply be an oddity. He wants to chart the course for FC Cincinnati in the future.

"I believe in myself," Kubo said. "And I know that I have the confidence to do what I can to help the club."

With four different positions covered in less than a month, he's hard to doubt.

Kubo and Cincinnati return to MLS action Saturday against CF Montréal.