In the fall of 2012, Carlos Mendes took a leap of faith.

Nearing the end of his contract with Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew, the Mineola, N.Y. native was contacted by another Long Island soccer star with a proposition.

“When I had the chance to come to the Cosmos and start selecting players, Carlos was one of the players I was interested in bringing in,” said Head Coach and Sporting Director Giovanni Savarese. “He’s a local player who was at a point in his career when he was thinking about different things.”

Mendes, then 31, was an eight-year veteran of MLS who had made over 150 league appearances. In 2008 he helped pilot the New York Red Bulls to an MLS Cup Final, starting at center back in that match and the Conference Final before it. He was looking for a new challenge, and there was an intriguing one in his backyard.

“[Gio] reached out and basically said he’d like to have me back home in New York, and be the first guy signed for the New York Cosmos,” Mendes said. “He let me know there was interest.”

On Dec. 11, 2012 – two weeks before his 32^nd birthday – Mendes put pen to paper. Now approaching four years at the club, he’s scheduled to become the first player to reach 100 appearances when New York hosts FC Edmonton this Saturday. Mendes has captained his side to two NASL championships, collecting Best XI honors the past two years.

Carlos Mendes was our first signing of the reboot era. He's set to make his 100th club appearance Saturday.

👏 #TBT pic.twitter.com/VecEqR1URs

— New York Cosmos (@NYCosmos) September 15, 2016

Earning the captaincy of a team that has included former Villarreal captain Marcos Senna, former Real Madrid captain Raúl and former Venezuela national team captain Juan Arango is an impressive feat. For Savarese, a number of factors make Mendes the perfect fit: his professionalism, his work ethic and the example he sets for younger players are important. But his faith was the catalyst.

“He was the first one to believe in the project when there was nothing. I think he needed to be rewarded for that,” said Savarese. “He was the first person that went with my word and the word of the organization. He wanted to help build something new. He became the captain for that decision.”

Like Savarese, Cosmos goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer first met Mendes during his time at the Red Bulls. Freshly drafted out of the University of South Carolina, Maurer crossed paths with Mendes in 2011 on a preseason trip with the team.

“I think I actually sat next to him on the plane,” Maurer said. “I was still in on trial, not signed or anything. But he was really friendly and open. That just shows the character of him as a person. He’s a great guy from the get-go.”

Reunited in Cosmos Country, Mendes and Maurer have combined to spearhead a stingy Cosmos defense since Maurer became the starting goalkeeper in 2014. Last weekend they kept NASL Golden Boot frontrunner Christian Ramirez and Minnesota United off the scoreboard, earning their 10^th shutout of the season in a 1-0 triumph at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium. The Cosmos defense has conceded only six goals in 13 NASL home matches this year.

Since signing on, Mendes has globetrotted with his teammates as ambassadors of the beautiful game, playing friendlies in Cuba, Hong Kong and Dubai while meeting club legends like Pelé. He’s led the Cosmos to statement wins over the Red Bulls and New York City FC in the U.S. Open Cup. While those moments are special to him, the most special one since returning to New York didn’t happen on the field.

“It’s been the most incredible thing in my life, of course, becoming a dad. There are no words, really,” said Mendes. He and his wife celebrated the birth of their first child, James Ryan Mendes, last May. “It’s a beautiful thing and I’ve enjoyed every moment. You really have to mature as a person a lot. The time you spend off the field is entirely different.”

“Our conversations have definitely changed since he had his kid,” Maurer said, smiling. His wife gave birth to their third son earlier this year. “We took the kids to the zoo not too long ago.”

PHOTO TIMELINE: Best of Carlos Mendes with the Cosmos

Mendes has started 21 of the Cosmos’ 24 NASL matches in 2016. He has never finished lower than third in team appearances during each of his three prior seasons. In fact, no outfield player cracked Savarese’s starting lineup more than Mendes last season; he made 28 starts to help the club capture a seventh league title.

“I’m very fortunate to play for this club and have the confidence of the coaching staff and ownership,” Mendes said. “Staying healthy is a big part of it. For the most part I’ve been injury free, or at least clear of anything major. I’m grateful.”

Approaching the end of his 14^th season as a professional soccer player – he’ll turn 36 on Christmas Day – Mendes is prepared to take the rest of his playing career “a year at a time.”

“I’m enjoying it and I feel good mentally. Obviously I want to play as long as possible,” he said. “But when I don’t feel right physically or even mentally – when I don’t have the butterflies before the game – that’s the time I’ll probably sit down with my family and decide to leave the game and retire.”

And after that?

“I’ll move forward and hopefully be a part of the club. I’ve been here from the beginning and watched it grow,” he said. “I’m happy to be a part of it.”