From the moment he signed with the New York Cosmos on December 11, 2012, Carlos Mendes has not only embraced the club’s legacy, he has built upon that foundation to re-establish an expectation of excellence. The first player to sign up for the Reboot era, taking the #4 shirt and the captain’s armband meant Mendes would be compared with another legendary product of the local New York soccer scene, Werner Roth. Winning three titles in his tenure with the Cosmos, Mendes has matched Roth’s trophy haul. However, no other Cosmos captain has won as many NASL titles as captain. Mendes helped teammates Raúl and Marcos Senna retire as champions in 2015, just as Pelé did in 1977. If he can do the same, he will equal Giorgio Chinaglia’s record of winning four NASL titles with the club.

The position of central-defender isn’t the most glamorous on the pitch, but it was telling that Giovanni Savarese would build his team beginning with the veteran product from Mineola. The steady presence of Mendes, with his impeccable timing, accurate passing (completing nearly 9 of every 10 passes) and his clear communication, has been key to the consistent quality of Savarese’s side, and is why he has been named to the NASL Best XI each of the last three seasons.

            His 111^th regular season match for the Cosmos will be his last. Four times Mendes has been named Man of the Match. Goals are rare for a player in his position but Mendes has scored four in his time with the club. His first goal as a professional came on opening day of the 2014 season against the Atlanta Silverbacks. Poaching on a rebound off a Marcos Senna freekick, Mendes used the outside of his left boot, diving with his back to the goal. His second goal as a pro came later in the same match when he used the inside of the same boot to one-touch an Ayoze corner kick into the back of the net.

A year later, against FC Edmonton on Mother’s Day 2015, may be the most memorable match of Mendes’s time with the Cosmos. Just three days after his wife, Jill, gave birth to their first child, Mendes finished again with his left boot, after a cross from Raúl was nodded down by Lucky Mkosona. The Captain tucked the ball inside his shirt to celebrate the occasion. Just as with the first game in which he scored, Mendes made it a brace, heading home an Ayoze cross for the match winner.

His two other MOTM performances were also against Edmonton, in May and September of 2016.

            Mendes has started all three of the NASL title matches the club has won. He will have to captain the club for three more matches to earn a record fourth title as captain, but to accomplish this, a win in the season finale at home, against Puerto Rico FC, will be the most fitting final salute to the captain in Cosmos Country. Embracing history, Mendes has made history, with hopes of making more still this season. For generations to come, Carlos Mendes will be remembered for believing in the New York Cosmos at the start of the reboot era, and rewarding the trust placed in his ability to lead with championships, reviving the traditions of North American soccer’s most legendary club. Heroes are rare. Local heroes are even more precious. Cosmos Country will always cherish the memory of Carlos Mendes, who has earned his place among the club’s pantheon of legends. O captain! Our captain! We salute you.