It is a tale of two cousins, Peter Mangione and Luigi Mangione, in the same borough, separated by six miles of concrete and a moral chasm that capitalism is all too eager to bridge.
On Wednesday, Brooklyn FC announced the signing of midfielder Mangione for their inaugural USL Championship roster. On paper, it’s a solid sports move—Mangione is a former Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year from Penn State and a grinder from FC Cincinnati 2. But let’s not pretend “soccer ability” is the only reason this story is trending.
Peter is the cousin of Luigi Mangione, the man currently sitting in the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, awaiting trial for the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
As Peter preps for kickoff at Maimonides Park in Coney Island, Luigi is rotting in a cell in Sunset Park. They are arguably the most famous family in New York right now—one for potential goals, the other for alleged cold-blooded murder. And the jerseys? They are reportedly flying off the shelves.
This begs the sharpest question of 2026 so far: Did Brooklyn FC just pull off the most brilliant, cynical marketing move in sports history? And are we, as consumers, complicit in letting capitalism turn a murderer’s proximity into a merchandising opportunity?
The “Mangione Effect”: Talent or Ticket Sales?
First, let’s clear the air on the football (soccer) side. Peter is a legitimate talent. He scored 31 goals at Penn State and has been fighting for a first-team spot in the pro ranks. Brooklyn FC, a new club trying to carve out a niche in the crowded New York sports market, needs hungry, young players.
But they also need noise.
In the attention economy, “noise” is currency. By signing Peter Mangione, Brooklyn FC didn’t just sign a midfielder; they signed a global headline. They signed the “cousin of the UnitedHealthcare shooter.”
Reports indicate that sales of the Mangione #49 (or whatever number he dons) are spiking. Are these fans buying the shirt because they admire Peter’s work rate in the midfield? Or are they buying it for the irony? For the edge? For the dark connection to the “Ambassador” of anti-corporate rage sitting in a cell nearby?
If Brooklyn FC’s front office didn’t calculate this, they are incompetent. If they did, they are machiavellian geniuses.
The Geography of Irony
The geography here is almost too scripted for fiction.
- The Venue: Maimonides Park, Coney Island. A place of leisure, hot dogs, and summer fun.
- The Prison: MDC Brooklyn, Sunset Park. A grim federal facility known for housing Ghislaine Maxwell, Diddy, and now, Luigi Mangione.
The distance between the two is roughly six miles. You could take an Uber from Peter’s home opener to Luigi’s cell in 20 minutes.
This proximity creates a bizarre friction. Every time Peter touches the ball, the broadcast will mention it. Every profile written about him (including this one) will mention it. The shadow of Luigi—who is accused of shooting a father and CEO in the back—looms over the pitch.
Capitalism’s Moral Vacuum
Here is where we need to be sharp and critical. Capitalism does not have a conscience; it only has a bottom line.
Is it “okay” that a sports team benefits from the notoriety of a murderer?
On one hand, Peter is innocent. We do not believe in “sins of the father” (or the cousin). Peter has worked his entire life to play professional soccer. To deny him a contract because his cousin allegedly snapped and killed someone would be unjust. He deserves a career. He deserves to play.
But on the other hand, the market is reacting to the blood, not the ball.
The people buying that jersey are likely not Brooklyn FC ultras. They are buying a piece of the “Luigi” narrative by proxy. They are treating a horrific crime—the murder of Brian Thompson—as a meme, a counter-culture symbol, or a collector’s item.
When a jersey sells out because of a murder connection, the system is broken. It turns tragedy into transaction. It validates the idea that any fame is good fame. Luigi Mangione wanted to send a message about the healthcare industry, but instead, he just created a brand. And now, that brand is selling polyester shirts in Coney Island.
The Victim in the Background
While the internet debates whether Luigi is a villain or a folk hero, and while Brooklyn FC counts their merchandise revenue, let’s remember the reality.
Brian Thompson is dead. He was a human being, a father, and a husband. He was gunned down on a sidewalk. The capitalization on the “Mangione” name feels like a second slap in the face to the victim’s family.
If Brooklyn FC is smart, they will donate a portion of Peter Mangione’s jersey sales to victims of gun violence or healthcare charities. If they don’t, they are simply riding the wave of a homicide for clicks and ticket sales.
Would you buy the jersey? Is it support for Peter or fascination with Luigi?
So, did Brooklyn FC make the best marketing move ever? Statistically, yes. They are a USL Championship team (not MLS, let’s get that right—they are second division) getting global press coverage usually reserved for Lionel Messi.
Is it ethical? Absolutely not.
It is a gray area painted in the darkest shade of black. It exploits a tragedy, burdens a young athlete with his cousin’s sins, and turns a criminal trial into a sideshow for soccer season tickets.
Peter should be allowed to play. But we, the public, should stop pretending we’re watching him for his passing accuracy. We are watching because we love a car crash, and Brooklyn FC just sold us front-row seats.
