Column: The 2026 LA Galaxy will go as far as Gabriel Pec can take them
Does the 2026 season hinge on Gabriel Pec, I believe so
For many young athletes, being the face of a franchise is the ultimate dream. 2026 provides the opportunity for Gabriel Pec to take that mantle and make this his team.
With MLS on the rise, soccer becoming one of the fastest-growing sports in the U.S., and a World Cup on the horizon, more eyes than ever can land on the beautiful game here in the U.S.
The LA Galaxy is a recognizable soccer brand across the world. It’s a rarity given that sports leagues like the NFL, MLB, and NBA have that hold and MLS isn’t at that level culturally. Names such as David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robbie Keane, and Landon Donovan come to mind immediately when you think of the six-time MLS Cup winners.
With another season of Riqui Puig on the sidelines, this is an opportunity for Pec to be THE GUY for the LA Galaxy. And he cannot let that slip away like he did last season.
2025 was the golden opportunity for him to establish himself as the face of LA and keep the G’s as one of the league’s best teams despite losing one of its best players.
That idea didn’t go to plan as he recorded two goal contributions in his first 18 games across all competitions. He finished the 2025 season with 11 goals and four assists in 40 games played. A far cry from his 2024 season, where the Brazilian recorded 21 goals and 16 assists in 41 games.
2026 must be the year for Pec. The LA Galaxy will only go as far as Pec can take them – that’s a take I wholeheartedly believe will come true this season. At 25 years old, this is the start of the Brazilian’s prime years
During Gabriel Pec’s introductory press conference in January 2024, you saw a young man who was getting ready for the biggest moment of his career.
The LA Galaxy paid a record transfer fee to acquire him from Vasco da Gama in Brazil. He didn’t know much English, and he wasn’t a starter right away for the club. He broke through the pressure and ended the season winning MLS Newcomer of the Year and MLS Cup.
At the time, Pec was supposed to be a side character rather than the star of the team. It was Riqui Puig’s team, and he was the player LA marketed the most locally and nationally.
Pec grew into the squad, found his best role and helped build one of the best attacking units in MLS history. Pec proved that he could be a star and someone that a team could make the focus of their attack.
When the 2025 season came around, it was disappointing that Pec struggled to have the same level of impact he had the year prior. It showed that he was much better as part of the supporting cast than being the lead of the show.
Being the “face of the franchise” means taking over when the team needs it the most. It means taking responsibility in big games and keeping the heartbeat of the team going, even in the hardest moments of the season. Off the field, it means talking to the media and knowing that you are the reference point for the entire organization.
It’s not hard to envisage Pec doing all that and fitting the role perfectly, but as the saying goes, I need to see it to believe it.
His goal against Minnesota United in the 2024 Western Conference Semifinals is his standout highlight with the LA Galaxy. Everyone was rising from their seats watching the Brazilian’s individual skill and scoring with his weak foot. It was at that moment that LA felt invincible and cut above the rest. Pec’s ability brought that feeling out, and it showed he was the real deal.
The now 25-year-old Pec needs a moment like his goal against the Loons this upcoming season. He raises the Galaxy’s ceiling and makes the home crowd come alive when in flow state. There is no question he can replicate that, but can he take hold of that mantle of “face of the franchise” and not let it slip by again?
This next clip is what I mean when I say he can fit right into that role. His late-game-winning goal celebration saw him tackled by his teammates on the floor, and a smile that shows the joy he can bring to the pitch.
It would be a shame if the 2026 LA Galaxy isn’t known as Gabriel Pec’s team.