Carlos Mendes, former New York Cosmos captain and Mineola native, said he’s been playing soccer for as long as he can remember.
“I was in love with the game as soon as I started playing it and kind of always dreamed about it,” said Mendes, who now lives in East Meadow. “You have to dream big.”
The recently retired professional player said he’s looking forward to getting more involved with the local soccer scene in the community he grew up playing in.
Mendes retired from his 15-year professional career at 37-years-old at the end of the 2017 North American Soccer League season in November.
He ended his career as a defender and captain of the New York Cosmos.
Mendes’ professional soccer career began in 2002 when he played for the Long Island Rough Riders, where he made 10 appearances before going to the Rochester Rhinos.
The first time Mendes stepped onto the professional field, the culmination of all his hard work and dreams coming true, was a surreal experience, he said.
“So many kids when they’re younger, whatever sport they might play, think of playing in front of stadiums and fans and friends and family,” Mendes said. “And after so many years of hard work and so many people supporting me when it finally came true, when I had my first professional game, it definitely was the most special game in a lot of ways.”
Mendes has also played for the New York Red Bulls and the Columbus Crew.
Mendes said he feels thankful and lucky for the family, coaches and community that helped him achieve his success.
“It’s tough to put into words, but it’s an incredible feeling,” Mendes said.
Before Mendes was playing on the professional fields, though, he was playing for leagues around the local area and for The Wheatley School.
Mendes was voted All-American his senior year of high school, and was an All-State and All-Region honoree. He was voted All-County twice.
He said he played “all over the place,” growing up, in leagues across Long Island including in Mineola, in Albertson and in New Hyde Park. He later progressed to play on teams representing New York State, Mendes said.
Mendes went on to play at Old Dominion University, where he was named to the Colonial Athletic Association First Team in 1999, 2000 and 2001.
At the time, he said it was an even further fetched dream because professional soccer was not as popular in the United States.
Mendes said being Portuguese, playing soccer was part of his family’s culture that always stuck with him.
Mendes said that Long Island, the Mineola area specifically, is a great place for kids to get their start in soccer.
“Being from Mineola helped shape who I am and my attitude,” Mendes said. “It’s helped me throughout my professional career.”
He added that the local area is filled with great talent and coaches for young athletes.
Playing soccer didn’t just help Mendes grow as an athlete, he said, but also shaped him as a person.
Soccer, or sports in general, can teach kids lessons beyond the field, he said.
“If you’re a young athlete hopefully you can get to the pro level,” Mendes said. “But you’re going to learn about hard work … it’ll help you down the line in whatever you do.”
