Now in the twilight of his career, midfielder Maxi Moralez can easily lay claim to being the greatest talent ever to play for NYCFC. The 38 year-old Argentinian has cemented his legacy over the last week with a game-winning goal against Supporters Shield winners Philadelphia Union. Not only does he continue to lead with big goals on the field but also add his experience to the pool of young talent still learning their way.
“It’s something that’s irreplaceable,” said defender Kevin O’Toole when asked about Moralez’s impact on the club. “He always seems to elevate his game in the playoffs year-after-year. He’s just an indispensable part of the teams and he’s had a tremendous contribution, especially in the last game.”
Moralez started his time with City in 2017, joining a star-studded roster that included the likes of David Villa and Andrea Pirlo. Future Premier League manager Andoni Iraola also patrolled the midfield alongside Moralez during that time. His most productive year proved to be 2019 where the Argentinian scored seven goals and assisted on 20. In 2021, he played a pivotal role in the club’s first MLS Cup victory, defeating the Portland Timbers in a dramatic final.
The player departed the club after the 2022 season, returning to his native home with Racing Club where he started his career. While it appeared as though that the end had come for his time in MLS, circumstances would reunite City with Moralez just one year later. A major knee injury kept him off the field until 2024 but this year has seen a resurgence that has helped carry NYC to one of their biggest games in club history.
“He is very important on-and-off the field,” said head coach Pascal Jansen. “Maxi is a leading figure in that whole spectrum. You can see he can translate a whole lot of things on the pitch. He is one of the main characters.”
Moralez and NYCFC will travel to Fort Lauderdale on Saturday evening with a chance to reach their second MLS Cup Final in club history. All they have to do is get past one of the most loaded rosters in MLS history in Inter Miami. Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul will hope to spoil City’s cinderella-run in the playoffs.
photo by Jordan Bank