Sometimes being at an FC Cincinnati game is like watching a buddy movie in the best way. Attacking midfielder Luciano Acosta and forward Brandon Vazquez were included in Major League Soccer’s 2022 Best XI selections, marking the first time that FC Cincy players were celebrated among the top 11 players in the MLS. Acosta tallied 10 goals and an MLS-leading 19 assists for the 2022 regular season. Cincinnati's captain tied for third in the league for goal contributions — 29, a career high — and also led the club in game-winning assists with five. Meanwhile, Vazquez notched 18 goals on the season, a personal career high. He led the league in open-play goals (16), tied for the most header goals (six) and set FC Cincinnati records for goals across all competitions, shots and shots on goal while becoming the first Cincinnati player to score multiple goals in consecutive games. Together, Acosta and Vazquez became the first pair of teammates with at least 25 goal contributions in a single season since 2018. Both were selected for the MLS All-Star Game during the summer. Name a better power duo, we dare you. fccincinnati.com.

Here are the 2023 Best Of Cincinnati® Reader and Staff Pick winners for Sports & Recreation.

1. Soccer City
2. Town and Country Sports Health Club
3. Wall2Wall

1. Schmidt Boat Ramp and Ballfields
2. Riverside Park
3. Westside Sports Park

1. 700 WLW-AM
2. FOX Sports Ohio
3. WCPO-TV

1. Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden
2. YMCA Camp Ernst
3. Clifton Cultural Arts Center

1. Cincinnati Rollergirls
2. Florence Y’alls
3. Dayton Dragons

1. Barstool Sportsbook at Hollywood Casino
2. FanDuel Sportsbook
3. Betfred

1. University of Cincinnati football
2. Xavier University men’s basketball
3. Ohio State University football

1. Cincinnati Bengals
2. FC Cincinnati
3. Cincinnati Cyclones

1. Sawyer Point Park
2. Camargo Racquet Club
3. The Club at Harper’s Point

1. Fifty West Production Works
2. Knotty Pine Rock Club and Tiki Bar
3. Cabana on the River

1. Body Alive
2. Shellates Studio
3. Pilates Center of Cincinnati

1. Red River Gorge
2. Hocking Hills State Park
3. Winton Woods

1. Sunlite Pool (Coney Island)
2. Ziegler Park
3. Kings Island

1. Flying Pig Marathon
2. Queen Bee Half Marathon
3. Thanksgiving Day Race

1. Sawyer Point Park
2. Fifty West Brewing Company
3. Dulle Park

1. Joey Votto
2. Jonathan India
3. Tyler Stephenson

1. Oakley Park
2. Blue Ash Recreation Center
3. Mt. Echo Park

1. ProForce Sports Performance
2. Strength Beyond the Weights
3. Trilogy Fitness Systems

1. Joe Burrow
2. Sam Hubbard
3. Tee Higgins