--- title: "FC Cincinnati faces playoff test against Miami FC and Lionel Messi" url: https://newscentral.site/fc-cincinnati-faces-playoff-test-against-miami-fc-and-lionel-messi/ language: en publisher: "News Central Site" section: "Sports" published: 2026-10-27T22:09:03.000Z updated: 2026-10-27T22:39:43.608Z id: 1b94f9e3-cdd6-4598-858c-9b34dc1fd3ae source: "Yahoo Sports https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/fc-cincinnati-continues-playoff-push-220903652.html" attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/fc-cincinnati-faces-playoff-test-against-miami-fc-and-lionel-messi/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story." --- # FC Cincinnati faces playoff test against Miami FC and Lionel Messi FC Cincinnati is on the cusp of securing a playoff spot in Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference, but their chances will be put to the test when they face off against Miami FC and Lionel Messi on Wednesday. The Orange and Blue are currently eighth in the conference standings with 42 points from 11 wins, 11 losses, and nine draws. A win over Miami would secure a playoff spot for Cincinnati, provided Columbus Crew loses at Dallas, but a loss or draw could complicate their chances of qualifying later in the season. FC Cincinnati has had mixed results against Messi in the past, with a particularly disappointing 4-0 loss in the 2025 playoffs and a 5-3 defeat earlier this year. In that May match, Messi netted two goals and had another disallowed, while German Berterame and Mateo Silvetti managed to score late in the game. FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan has acknowledged the challenge posed by Messi, describing him as "as good as we've seen and still playing at an exceptionally high level. Despite this, Noonan remains optimistic about his team's chances of limiting Messi's impact on the game and securing a positive result against Miami FC. FC Cincinnati is set to face off against Inter Miami CF, a team that boasts an impressive offense led by Lionel Messi. Despite their opponents' formidable attacking lineup, FC Cincinnati coach has expressed optimism about his team's chances of limiting Messi's impact on the game. Miami CF has been one of the top-scoring teams in the league, with 73 goals to their name, nine more than FC Cincinnati and seven more than Nashville, who won the Supporters' Shield. This impressive goal tally is a testament to the team's ability to create scoring opportunities and capitalize on them. FC Cincinnati will be facing a team that has been struggling defensively, having conceded two goals in their last outing against Red Bull New York. Miami CF had gone seven months without keeping a clean sheet before their most recent match, which ended in a 2-0 loss for the visitors. The absence of Lionel Messi from the starting lineup was a deliberate choice by Miami FC's coach, not due to any injury concerns but rather because the Argentine superstar had traveled to Spain to accept a prestigious humanitarian award. Messi made his entrance in the second half, playing for 34 minutes as he sought to make an impact on the game. Despite being rested earlier than usual, Messi remains a force to be reckoned with, having scored at least one goal in five of his last six starts. The reigning league MVP is also the leading scorer in the league, having netted 25 goals and provided 15 assists so far this season. His impressive form has made him a key player for Miami FC, who continue to rely on Messi's creativity and goal-scoring prowess. Meanwhile, Evander remains hot on Messi's heels in the league's goal contribution rankings, with 29 points (14 goals, 15 assists) putting him second overall. He is one of four players tied for third place, two behind Messi. With a formidable challenge ahead, FC Cincinnati's manager, Pat Noonan, is preparing his team for a tough match against Argentine star Lionel Messi and his side, Miami. Miami's attack has been led by Rodrigo De Paul, who boasts an impressive five goals and 14 assists in the season so far. German Berterame, playing in his first season with Miami, has also made significant contributions with nine goals and eight assists to his name. Noonan acknowledges that facing Messi will require a confident defensive approach from his team, as they look to limit the impact of their opponent's best players. Despite this, Noonan is optimistic about his team's chances, saying we can have a solution" to counter Miami's strengths. --- Source: [Yahoo Sports](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/fc-cincinnati-continues-playoff-push-220903652.html) Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/fc-cincinnati-faces-playoff-test-against-miami-fc-and-lionel-messi/