Starts: 35
Minutes: 3,148
Age: 30
Key Stat: 1,860 passes completed per FBref.com, most of any NYCFC player in 2025.
Thiago Martins had another solid year anchoring a New York City FC defense that improved on their collective 2024 performance.
The 30-year-old Brazilian center-back made 36 appearances in all competitions. He once again eclipsed 30 games played for New York City as he’s done in his previous seasons in MLS, despite again missing time in 2025 after needing midseason surgery to address a knee issue.
Injuries and age might be the only real questions around Thiago's game, because his play was once again high-level in 2025 and he'll return in 2026 expected to once again be a big piece of the puzzle at the back for Pascal Jansen.
Slow start
The biggest hiccup of the 2025 season for Thiago Martins was starting the year injured. He picked up a calf injury early in preseason training and was slow to be match-fit, not starting his first game for Pascal Jansen until Matchday 3, the home-opener win over Orlando City SC at Yankee Stadium.
