FC Cincinnati Tom Barlow is off to a career-best start with his new club, and, most impressively, is doing so by making the most of every opportunity, no matter the situation.
A newcomer to The Orange and Blue in 2026, Barlow, 30, has already scored five times for FC Cincinnati in MLS play and another three times across all other competitions, bringing his total season account to eight goals just halfway through the year. In seven previous MLS seasons, Barlow had never scored more than four goals in a regular season, and he has now surpassed his previous high (in 2022 with the New York Red Bulls) in 18 fewer appearances and over 400 fewer minutes played.
But what has made Barlow stand out most for FC Cincinnati, aside from that goal total, is that he has consistently delivered quality performances and results for the club, regardless of the circumstances or the amount of time he has on the field.
With 15 appearances this season, Barlow has only started five games and registered just 551 minutes played, which places him at just 13th most on the squad. Yet, he is third on the team in scoring and has played a role in some of the most important moments of matches this season.
He has been, in short, exactly what strong teams have on the roster: quality contributors who can make things happen when their number is called.
Four of Barlow’s five goals have come off the bench, but in his starts, he has also scored three times in Concacaf Champions Cup play and once in MLS action.
Regardless of the situation, he has been a contributor.
“Tom is a team player. He wants to help our team win. It's simple. You can see it in different ways with players as you go through a season, but this (has been) a challenging moment, and Tom hasn't wavered at all,” FC CIncinnati Head Coach Pat Noonan said earlier this year of Barlow’s character.
But one thing that has particularly stood out, according to Noonan, has been Barlow’s willingness to accept and thrive in whatever role he is needed in.
“OK, you're not starting, but you've been producing for us and playing well, and we want some fresh legs, so we select Ayoub [Jabbari] and (Barlow’s) just ready. He goes, ‘I'll be ready,’ and there he is. He comes in, and he's just active in anticipating plays,” Noonan said after a match where Barlow had excelled as a reserve. “Sometimes it's about understanding the game. Sometimes it's just sheer effort and determination. He has that, and that's what gives him an advantage in certain moments.”
Barlow joined FC Cincinnati at the beginning of the 2026 season after two seasons with Chicago Fire FC and five years with Red Bull New York before that. A St. Louis, Missouri, native who played for the same youth organization as his now Head Coach Pat Noonan, Barlow was a standout at the University of Wisconsin before being taken in the second round of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft.
As a veteran in Major League Soccer now with nearly 200 appearances, Barlow has become known for his high work rate, physical skill and keen game sense, making him a valuable player regardless of the way a coach chooses to deploy him. For example, forwards are not typically known for their defensive skills or contributions, but Barlow’s ability and willingness to press from the front on defense make him a very useful player, particularly late in games.
“Tom is opportunistic. He's engaged, he's a team player,” Noonan said of Barlow at a press conference earlier this year. “His goal against CF Montreal kind of shows that.”
“We're playing down a man. He's coming onto the field, and he does a really good job of just working with the guys around him,” Noonan continued. “Despite being down a man, he anticipates the moment and finishes the play. That's how he plays the game – just ready to make plays, and always willing to do what the team needs.”
If you’re looking for a late goal, he can create chaos and stretch the back line with his running. If you’re trying to defend a lead, his pace and pressure will challenge opposing attackers and effectively create an extra defender.
“I showed a play where he's recovering, and Ender [Echenique]'s tired, and he's sprinting back to cover that position at that moment,” Noonan continued on the defensive part of Barlow’s game. “So, that's not something you have to be worried about with Tom. It's just about giving him the right information to help him go out and perform. On top of the effort, it's good to see the production, because that's important from your attacking pieces, so that part's been good as well. But he's been great for us."
But more than anything, Barlow’s willingness to do all of those things makes him a valued and celebrated teammate.
“Obviously, it's not ideal when you're not starting a game, but he's got a great mindset. He works hard in training every day. He's always gonna be in the right spots in the games, and he's always gonna give everything for the team,” FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano said of Barlow after the forward scored his fifth goal of the season.
“So it's nice when guys that are always doing the work, don't complain, keep their head down, get rewarded with goals,” Celentano continued. “He's been doing it for us and I’m really happy for him, because he's a beast, and he's a great guy.”
The next chance to see Tom Barlow, Roman Celentano and all of FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium is on Friday, July 10 at 7:30p.m., when The Orange and Blue host historic English club Burnley FC in a Summer friendly. For more information on that match, including tickets, click here or call 513-977-KICK.
