FC Cincinnati’s star striker Kévin Denkey enters Decision Day with a chance at club history after helping his club clinch a playoff spot for the fifth year in a row last Saturday, making a major impact despite not getting his name on the score sheet. But with their spot in the postseason affirmed and one game left to go, FCC still have plenty to play for, and among the stakes is a point of intrigue for the DP: a shot at club history.
Denkey, 25, has had another excellent season for FCC, scoring 17 goals in MLS play and 21 across all competitions this year. Those totals put him in line for a club record if he scores at least two more goals this year.
The Togolese striker, who has already risen to third in club history for goals scored, is one finish away from tying the club's record for goals in a single season in both MLS play and across all competitions. His 17 goals are one shy of a record co-owned by Brandon Vazquez, Brenner and Evander, and his 21 goals are one shy of a record Evander broke last season.
But even in a season on the cusp of being record-setting, what has stood out about Kévin Denkey’s performances have been the contributions that don’t go onto the score sheet.
“Watch the last stretch of games, and that's the reason we wanted Kévin here,” FC Cincinnati Head Coach Pat Noonan said of Denkey after Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Philadelphia Union, which clinched a playoff spot for FCC.
“On top of the goal production, he's now elevated his game and his mentality to help this team with his work,” Noonan continued, “because when you're able to attack and when things are going well and you're scoring goals, yeah, you always see the best version of players in those moments, especially when the team's winning. But when the goals aren't coming or when the team needs to grind a little bit the way we've needed to, this is where I think Kevin has stepped up in a way that not many could.”
The FC Cincinnati defense has been far stronger of late, allowing only a much improved five goals in their last five games and earning two clean sheets in the process. That improvement has come from all over the field, including notably the front line, led by Denkey among other forwards.
The work rate and mentality shift, particularly in the last week, have made the improvements Denkey has shown impossible to ignore as FC Cincinnati have earned results and delivered better performances. But what may have gone underappreciated is how many adjustments and challenges Denkey has overcome to make an impact in that way, and help the team in the process.
“Not many could turn it around and provide the output and the work rate that he is over this stretch,” Noonan continued. “You look at just some of the details – mismatches size wise, how he uses his body and how he helps gain advantage when sometimes he's on an island, and what could be a knockdown, a turnover that goes the opponent's way – he’s given us so many advantages. It's been really impressive how he's helped our group and what we've asked of him.”
Kévin Denkey and FC Cincinnati enter the final day of the 2026 MLS regular season with everything to play for, even after clinching their playoff spot last weekend. The Orange and Blue take on Nashville SC at TQL Stadium this weekend, where Denkey could set multiple club records as they look to affirm their playoff seed and, in the process, keep Nashville from making history of their own.
