The season began brightly for the 20-year-old fullback, but he ended 2025 as an unused substitute in 13 of New York City FC's final 20 matches. Will he fight for more minutes in 2026, or is a transfer away up next for Ilenič?
Now that the 2025 season is in the rearview mirror, here are the final grades for New York City FC players and the front office.
The left back was a locked-in starter for one the best defenses in MLS, and earned his first international call-up in November.
The Pigeon's best attacking wingback in 2024 took major steps to becoming one of the best overall defenders in Major League Soccer in 2025.
The 26-year-old center back, who made just 10 appearances since joining NYCFC in August, is physical, technical — and inconsistent.
It was a career year for the Homegrown, who not only started all 43 NYCFC games this year, and led the team 3,840 minutes, he was among the league elite in blocks, interceptions, and passes.
His wasn't a perfect season in 2025, but it was another season in which you could consistently call the 30-year-old club captain one of the top center-backs in MLS.
The backup goalkeeper made 5 appearances this season, allowing just 0.71 goals per 90 minutes while comping a record of 3W-0D-2L.
Matt Freese isn't just a standout goalkeeper for New York City FC; the 27-year-old made his USMNT debut this year, and is now the first-choice No 1 heading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Positive moves have been made, but the work of NYCFC's Sporting Director feels incomplete and left too late to make the most of what remains of the 2025 season.
The Dutchman is six months into shaping a young and inconsistent squad that is undefeated against the top clubs in the conference, but that can lose to some of the worst teams in the league.
The striker is in the midst of another great season, but his underlying numbers say he should be scoring even more goals, and the eye test backs it up.
The 26-year-old is turning into New York City's secondary scorer, someone the team turns to when Alonso Martínez isn't playing his A-game. Can Wolf live up to that expectation for the rest of the season?
Before the start of this season, nobody would have guessed that Jonny Shore would be NYCFC's breakout player. But the midfielder is the first teenager since Jack Harrison to be fully integrated into the squad.
The legendary midfielder remains an influential presence, but his goal creation has been lacking through the first half of the season, a period in which he started every single MLS match for New York City.
Despite suffering from a nagging foot injury, the 27-year-old midfielder is instrumental to NYCFC's success.
