Starts: 0
Minutes: 83
Age: 17
Key Stat: 1 hockey assist against Seattle Sounders
As the youngest player ever to sign an MLS contract at age 14 in 2022, Máximo Carrizo has a world of footballing potential in him, but we’re still waiting to see him fully display it for New York City FC.
Still, the 17-year-old passed an important milestone in 2025, when he made his First Team debut on March 23 against Columbus Crew, following in the footsteps of James Sands, Tayvon Gray, and Justin Haak to become the 10th Homegrown player to appear with the club. But he logged just 83 total minutes as a substitute in five matches over the course of the season.
In those limited appearances, he showed poise and glimmers of promise as a developing playmaker, contributing a secondary assist against the Seattle Sounders in October. He completed 12 of 15 passes in 25 minutes against DC United, and completed 14 of 16 passes in 25 minutes against Houston Dynamo.
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Máximo Carrizo’s secondary assist vs Seattle Sounders | Courtesy MLS and Apple TV
Showing promise
His most memorable appearance arrived at the end of the year. Coming on as a late-game sub in a late-season match trailing 1-0 to the Philadelphia Union, Carrizo made a fantastic, well-timed run into the right side of the box to bury a shot into the back of the net, only to see it disallowed for a marginal offside call due to a late pass. In a game of inches, that play alone could have been an early career-defining highlight for the 17-year old.
Carrizo did make a strong impact for NYCFC II in MLS NEXT Pro. As a starter in all 14 appearances, Carrizo had three goals and four assists on the year. Better still, he raised both his goal and assist totals by one despite playing in 10 fewer matches than in the 2024 season — which was due largely to the time he spent with the First Team.
Carrizo also shone as captain and attacking midfielder for the US men’s team at the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, contributing goals and assists, before ultimately missing a penalty shot in the Round of 32 elimination match against Morocco.
Hudson River Blue Staff
Will 2026 be Carrizo’s breakout season?
As a New York City native and homegrown talent, Carrizo could very well be one of the keys to the future of NYCFC, and a source of local pride. He has serious ball skills, innate game instincts, and the work ethic to maximize these gifts in time.
Here’s hoping he breaks through next season.
A fair analysis