In this study, a facile MgO template-assisted route has been proposed for the preparation of carbon@MoS₂ composites via a one-step hydrothermal method followed by a thermal annealing process. By using sucrose as a carbon source and commercial MgO powder as a structure-directing agent, a three-dimensional sphere-like carbon@MoS₂ nanoarchitecture was assembled by one-dimensional worm-like nanorods which were composed of few-layered MoS₂ nanosheets and amorphous carbon matrix. The influence of different amount of MgO template on the morphology, structure, and lithium storage performance of the carbon@MoS₂ composites is systematically investigated. The carbon@MoS₂-2 composite synthesized with a Mo precursor: MgO molar ratio of 1:1 exhibits much higher reversible capacity (905.3 mAh g⁻¹ after 100 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g⁻¹) and better high-rate capability (503.4 mAh g⁻¹ at 5000 mA g⁻¹) than those of bare MoS₂ and template-free carbon@MoS₂-0 composite. Impressively, superior cycling stability is achieved for the carbon@MoS₂-2 composite with a capacity retention of 93.4% even after 400 charge/discharge cycles at 5000 mA g⁻¹. The excellent electrochemical performance for carbon@MoS₂-2 composite can be ascribed to its unique hierarchical nanoarchitecture and synergetic effect between MoS₂ nanosheets and amorphous carbon.