Luighi has been named NYCFC’s Etihad Player of the Month for September, securing the honor for a second consecutive month after also winning in August. The Brazilian forward’s latest recognition underlines an encouraging start to his career with New York City FC.
At just 20, Luighi is already giving supporters plenty to discuss. His September performances combined important goals with the physical presence and movement that have brought a different option to City’s attack.
September Goals Keep Luighi in the Spotlight
Luighi found the net against the New England Revolution at Yankee Stadium before adding another goal in NYCFC’s 2-0 away victory over Real Salt Lake.
His composed finish in Utah helped City secure a valuable road win and provided a fitting highlight to another productive month. Scoring both at home and away also demonstrated his ability to contribute in different match situations.
Following his August award with another in September gives the young Brazilian an early run of individual recognition. For a forward settling into a new club, those contributions offer an encouraging foundation.
Why Luighi Brings More Than Goals to NYCFC
The goals have attracted attention, but Luighi’s influence extends beyond his finishing. His strength gives NYCFC an additional physical presence up front, while his willingness to work makes him a demanding opponent for defenders.
Intelligent movement adds another layer to his game. By finding space and giving teammates passing options, he can help create opportunities as well as finish them.
That combination of energy, strength and attacking awareness helps explain his promising introduction to New York. Back-to-back Etihad Player of the Month awards recognize what he has already delivered—and raise interest in what might come next.
For NYCFC, the challenge now is to build on that momentum. For Luighi, September offered another clear sign that he is making his mark.
Other news - Focus
Other news
- 23:30 Lewandowski vs. Müller: A Bayern Reunion With Huge MLS Stakes
- 23:00 Nashville SC Could Break Messi’s Miami Record—But There’s a Catch
- 22:57 Messi’s MLS MVP Three-Peat: Can Anyone Stop Him in 2026?
- 22:51 Luighi Does It Again: NYCFC Forward Claims Another Monthly Award
- 17:00 Playoff Math: What NYCFC Needs to Do Down the Stretch
- 15:00 The Botafogo Connection: How a Brazilian Club's Debts Are Funding NYCFC's Business
- 13:00 Is Hannes Wolf's Time in New York Coming to an End?
- 21:00 The Shift: How NYCFC Snapped Out of Its Funk in Salt Lake City
- 18:57 Six Games Left: NYCFC's Rendezvous With Destiny at Yankee Stadium
- 15:30 The Quiet Architect: Agustín Ojeda's Fingerprints All Over NYCFC's Win
- 14:30 From Disappointment to Dominance: How NYCFC Answered Their Midweek Setback
- 13:30 The Wall: Matt Freese's Masterclass Anchors NYCFC's Win Over Real Salt Lake
- 12:30 The Hero Returns: Alonso Martínez Back on the Pitch as NYCFC Beats Real Salt Lake
- 11:28 New York City FC Grind Out 2-0 Win at Real Salt Lake Despite Slow Start
- 18:00 NYCFC Turn Their Focus to New England: What Must Improve After Nashville?
- 16:30 Can NYCFC Keep Competing Until Moralez, Parks and Hannes Wolf Return?
- 15:00 NYCFC 0-0 Nashville: One Point Gained or Two Points Lost?
- 21:30 NYCFC Defend With Character, but the Attack Still Needs More Ruthlessness
- 20:00 Aiden O’Neill Makes His Mark for NYCFC: A Valuable Defensive Option for Pascal Jansen
- 18:30 NYCFC Show Their Depth: Seven Players Missing, Yet Another Clean Sheet
- 17:00 Pascal Jansen’s NYCFC Rotation Worked Defensively — But Questions Remain in Attack
- 15:30 Nico Fernández Mercau Sets the Tone: Why His Pressing Is Crucial for NYCFC
- 14:00 Bénie Traoré and Luighi Show Early Chemistry: NYCFC’s New-Look Attack Is Taking Shape
- 23:00 Luighi’s Next Step at NYCFC: From Rising Star to Consistent MLS Threat
- 22:00 Raul Gustavo’s Costly Scare: What NYCFC Must Learn From the Mukhtar Chance
- 21:00 Malachi Jones Nearly Wins It for NYCFC: Has He Earned More Minutes?
- 20:00 Agustín Ojeda Shines for NYCFC: Is a Breakout Run About to Begin?
- 19:00 NYCFC’s Biggest Problem Is Clear: Who Is Going to Score the Goals?
- 18:00 Matt Freese Saves NYCFC Again: Is He Becoming the Team’s Most Important Player?
- 17:28 NYCFC Held to 0-0 Draw by Nashville SC at Yankee Stadium
- 18:30 NYCFC Need Their Identity Back: What Happened to the Aggressive, Fearless Team Fans Expected?
- 17:00 What Should NYCFC’s Real Goal Be Now: MLS Cup, a Playoff Run or Building for 2027?
- 15:30 Nashville and New England Could Define NYCFC’s Season — The Next Two Games Suddenly Feel Massive
- 14:00 Can NYCFC’s Young Core Carry the Club Into Its Next Era?
- 20:00 NYCFC’s Next Transfer Window Could Define the Future: Three Positions New York Must Reinforce
- 18:30 Is Pascal Jansen Building the Right NYCFC for the Future? The Answer Is Still Complicated
- 17:00 NYCFC Need a Killer Instinct: Good Performances Are No Longer Enough
- 15:30 From MLS Cup Dreams to Playoff Anxiety: Where NYCFC Really Stand Right Now
- 14:00 Can NYCFC Still Win MLS Cup in 2026? Five Reasons to Believe — and Five Reasons to Worry
- 19:00 NYCFC’s Defense Has Talent — So Why Does It Still Look So Vulnerable?
- 17:30 The Keaton Parks Question: Is He Still Essential to NYCFC’s Midfield Future?
- 16:00 Without Alonso Martínez, NYCFC Need a New Source of Goals — Who Is Ready to Step Up?
- 14:30 Luighi’s Big NYCFC Opportunity: Can the Brazilian Prospect Become New York’s Next Starting Striker?
- 13:00 NYCFC’s Five-Game Winless Run Is Becoming a Real Problem — Can Pascal Jansen Fix It Before the Slide Gets Worse?
- 04:00 NYCFC’s Injury Crisis Is Exposing a Bigger Question: Is the Roster Deep Enough to Compete for MLS Cup?
- 03:00 NYCFC Keep Dropping Leads — Is This Becoming a Mental Problem?
- 02:00 Pascal Jansen Under Pressure: Are His In-Game Decisions Costing NYCFC Points?
- 01:00 Matt Freese Keeps Saving NYCFC — But New York Cannot Keep Asking Its Goalkeeper to Rescue Every Game
- 00:01 Nico Fernández Mercau Is Becoming NYCFC’s Most Important Attacking Player
- 23:00 NYCFC Are Sliding at the Worst Possible Time: Five Games Without a Win and the Table Could Turn Ugly
- 22:00 Pascal Jansen’s Risky Substitution Backfired: NYCFC’s Left Side Collapsed Before Toronto’s Equalizer
- 21:00 NYCFC Threw Away Two More Points: This Time Pascal Jansen Has to Share the Blame
- 19:04 NYCFC Let Another Lead Slip: Fernández Mercau Stunner Not Enough to Finish Toronto Job