The last time New York City FC scored five goals in a match at Yankee Stadium, Talles Magno was still a member of the squad — albeit nearing an unceremonious end.
The date was May 31, 2024.
Nearly two years since that match and Magno being loaned to Corinthians in his native Brazil, the footballer was back in an NYCFC jersey in the Bronx as the club bullied Orlando City SC in a 5-0 rout in the home opener Saturday.
After subbing into the match in the 62nd minute, Magno nearly scored NYCFC’s sixth goal of the afternoon when midfielder Aiden O’Neill sent him a lead pass that he was able to get a touch on and then get by the Orlando keeper.
The play was called offside, but the moment of brilliance was a taste of the potential Magno still has.
Saturday’s win was the most he’s been on the pitch this season, playing 29 minutes after dealing with an undisclosed injury during preseason that limited him to a handful of minutes in the first two matches of 2026.
“Talles is making his steps. His physical condition is not ready enough to play 90 minutes,” NYCFC coach Pascal Jansen said, suggesting Magno will log more minutes when his fitness allows. “Today was a good example of that and this is the way we have to make him more robust and get him back in his best shape to be the best version that we can use for the team.”
Magno is back in New York with a bit more optimism than when he left, with Jansen and new sporting director Todd Dunivant now at the helm.
“I’m still getting to know everybody. It’s my first time I’m meeting everybody, but from what I see, it’s a lot better for me,” Magno told The Post. “We’re going to work a lot better. We’re going to train a lot better and we’re really looking forward to what we can do on the field.”
Magno’s raw talent is hard to question, and after originally joining NYCFC in 2021, the Brazilian has shown flashes of the skill he possesses.
He was part of the 2021 MLS Cup-winning roster and had a breakout season in 2022, recording 11 goals and eight assists across all competitions.
However, the following year, Magno was asked to play the striker role and during a down season had just four goals in 30 MLS matches before dealing with a knee injury and unhappiness with the way he was being used during the 2024 campaign.
He was ultimately loaned out to Corinthians during that summer, where he spent the next year and a half, recording nine goals in 67 matches across all competitions.
Even with the change in leadership at NYCFC, Magno’s return was a bit of a surprise.
He has earned praise from Jansen and Dunivant since he returned, with the sporting director mentioning his willingness to play whatever role Jansen needs.
“Whether that’s in training, whether it’s how he’s going to play the No. 9 role, he’s stepped up,” Dunivant told The Post.
“I’m comfortable playing striker, I’m comfortable playing winger, both positions for me are comfortable,” Magno said. “I think I feel more comfortable at the No. 9. I need to adapt a little bit. Running is different. It’s just detail for my performance.”
New York City FC’s offense exploded with goals from Keaton Parks, who recorded two, Agustín Ojeda, Nicolás Fernández Mercau and Maxi Moralez.
Ojeda scored the first goal of the game in the 21st minute and Fernández Mercau doubled that lead with a goal in the 42nd minute.
Moralez gave NYCFC a 3-0 advantage before the half ended and Parks scored his two in the first 10 minutes of the second half.
The strong showing included NYCFC dominating possession with 68 percent and outshooting Orlando 13-4.
NYCFC remains undefeated this season and has won back-to-back contests after playing to a 1-1 draw against the LA Galaxy in the first game of the season.
