Out of the blue drops some very bad injury news for New York City FC: Thiago Martins underwent knee surgery and is facing a four-to-six week recovery, the club just officially announced.
It's an especially unexpected turn of events for a behind-the-scenes reason: Thiago Martins was scheduled to meet with the New York City FC media later day prior to the team's match at FC Dallas, part of the club's regular media availabilities held before and after all their matches.
There was no previous indication he was carrying an injury that might rule him out, and he was lined up to preview this next match, so it would appear something went wrong with Thiago's knee this week in preparation for the trip to Texas. We will see if more information emerges when Pascal Jansen meets with the media later to discuss the Dallas game and, presumably, the now-lengthy absence faced by his club captain, and will update this post accordingly.
Unfortunately, Thiago has been here before when it comes to knee issues at NYCFC, undergoing a knee surgery on June 6, 2023, what the team called at the time a "left knee scope." That injury kept him out from his last healthy appearance on May 27, 2023, until he returned on July 8, 2023, a lapse of game action totaling 42 days, so the six-week timeframe might be just right this time as it was back then.
The Thiago Martins injury is also a major blow to a New York City defense now playing without Birk Risa after he returned to Norway and Molde FK. Yes, Pascal Jansen is expected to welcome in a familiar face in new signing Raul Gustavo of Ferencváros, but that move is not yet official or consummated – he won't be there to help in Dallas, nor likely during the very start of Leagues Cup, since that's fast-approaching on Tuesday, July 29.
Hudson River Blue Staff
Instead the pressure increases on midfielder-turned-center-back Justin Haak, and an opportunity opens up for Strahinja Tanasijević to play in his more natural role as a right-sided center-back, not filling in at right-back as we'd seen him do earlier this summer with Mitja Ilenič away from the team on international duty.
Recent MLS SuperDraft pick Max Murray made the bench for the team's trip to Kansas City, so might we also see the former University of Vermont star get an opportunity to show something to Pascal Jansen while Thiago is on the mend?
Filling the shoes of the captain won't be easy, as Thiago Martins was enjoying another MLS All-Star-caliber season in 2025. Thiago ranks sixth in MLS for percentage of attempted dribblers tackled, 82.4%, and he's eighth with 140 clearances, while also hugely influential while NYCFC is in possession. The center-back sits in the top-10 among all MLS players for his number of touches of the ball and for his progressive passing distance, so his dual role as a defensive disruptor and ball progresser out of the back will need some serious replacing.
The team's defense has excelled thanks to the play of Thiago Martins, Matt Freese, and Justin Haak, the team's most consistent defensive presences this season – they've allowed just 26 goals in 23 games, which is joint-fourth-best in the league so far this season.
Below you can read the full, brief release shared by NYCFC confirming Thiago's surgery, and maybe we'll see him back out there in early September.
NEW YORK – July 24, 2025 – Today New York City FC announced that Defender Thiago Martins has undergone knee surgery at Montefiore Hospital.
The Brazilian defender will begin rehab immediately and is expected to make a full recovery and return to training in four to six weeks.
Everyone at the Club wishes Thiago all the best during his recovery.
