Houston Dynamo 2025 player report cards: Antonio Carlos

We’re continuing our 2025 report card series, recapping each Dynamo player’s season. Next up, we look at center back Antonio Carlos.

2025 Grade: C-

2025 by the numbers (MLS play)

Appearances: 8
Minutes played: 603
Goals: 1
Assists: 0

(image via FBref.com and FBcharts.com)

2025 in review

Signed late in the summer, Antonio Carlos arrived in Houston with the reputation of a leader and former Orlando City captain—exactly the type of presence the Dynamo needed during a season of constant instability at center back. With Micael gone, Erik Sviatchenko injured, and the backline in constant rotation, Antonio was brought in to steady the ship.

However, the experienced defender was still managing recurring hamstring issues that had impacted previous seasons. While those limitations continued in Houston, his appearances showed glimpses of exactly what the team had been missing—calm under pressure, strength in duels, recovery speed, and leadership in organizing the backline.

Moment of the season

Antonio’s standout performance came against the San Jose Earthquakes, where he delivered his most complete match in orange. He was composed defensively, dominant in the air, and capped it off by scoring a goal. Despite his strong showing, the Dynamo ultimately fell 2-1, but his impact that night highlighted the difference a seasoned center back can make.

Looking forward

Antonio Carlos remains under contract through the 2026 season. With a full offseason to recover and regain fitness, many fans and coaches are hopeful to see a healthy partnership between him and Erik Sviatchenko anchoring the backline. If the club opts to bring in another starting-caliber defender, Antonio still projects as a valuable depth piece—experienced, dependable, and capable when called upon.