Thiago Martins has not always had the best time with New York City FC. The big argument was that the defender was a Designated Player, and arguably should not have been. For the first few years with the Bronx side, he was not one of the best center-backs in Major League Soccer.
However, since Martins joined the team in 2022, he has gotten better. He makes fewer mistakes and has been critical in the backline. Truthfully, he had his best season yet in 2025 when one uses the eye test, and he is a great leader for NYCFC.