Maxi Moralez joined New York City FC after stints with the likes of Racing Club, Velez Sarsfield, Atalanta and Club Leon. The 5'3 Argentine attacking midfielder signed on as a Designated Player with NYCFC prior to the 2017 MLS season. Just two matches in, NYCFC's new No. 10 ran in behind and calmly finished to open his account for the club, while also adding two assists in he match. He added another in similar fashion in a May victory over Atlanta United. Moralez was off to a good start.
Moralez and David Villa were beginning to form a decent connection together, which they showcased in a 2-2 draw with Toronto FC. In the Hudson River Derby, he controlled a ball and placed his left footed shot into the bottom corner. Houston allowed the smallest player on the pitch to nod a header into the back of the net for his fifth of the year. Columbus bounced NYCFC in the first playoff matchup, but it was a solid 5 goal and 9 assist season for Moralez nevertheless.
In the opening match of the 2018 campaign, Moralez made a darting run into the box and slid home his first of the season in Kansas City. Two games later, he planted his strike into the bottom corner to defeat Orlando City. Two fixtures after that, he scored again, beating San Jose with the help of a deflection. In the very next one, Maxi made no mistake converting from the penalty spot. He laced a shot against Colorado that Tim Howard could only watch hit the back of his net. Moralez has always been a calm and clean finisher, looking to pick out the bottom corners. In June, he registered an assist in four consecutive matches. In July, he tagged a shot that held up as the lone goal in a 1-0 victory over the Red Bulls. He smashed a rebound home, adding an assist to claim victory on the road in Orlando. Moralez finished the year with a whopping 16 assists, while setting his career-high in goals with 8. NYCFC placed third in the East. In the knockout playoff match with Philadelphia, he assisted Ismael Tajouri-Shradi, then scored one of his own with an audacious chip. Atlanta knocked them out in the next round.
In 2019, Maxi Moralez joined elite company. He became just the third player in MLS history to assist 20 goals in one season. The only others to do it are Carlos Valderrama (26) and Sacha Kljestan (20). Maxi scored his first goal of 2019 against the Montreal Impact. He scored his first penalty of the year on his third attempt against the Galaxy on the road. On June 6th, he absolutely destroyed FC Cincinnati. He notched a hat trick of assists, the first to Alexandru Mitrita, a secondary assist for Heber, and a perfect ball over the top for Heber once again. After assisting three, he got one of his own with a beautiful combination play. On June 29th, he had another incredible game against the Union. He scored a brace, one from the spot, the other also from the penalty dot. He then proceeded to assist two goals, the first to Taty Castellanos, before he then finished it off in the same exact manner. In a July match at Yankee Stadium against the Seattle Sounders, Jesus Medina and Maxi Moralez played hot potato, before it finally bounced his way for the goal. In August, he scored another goal against his New York rivals. Their playoff run ended abruptly, as they fell to Toronto FC despite a Maxi assist. Moralez made the 2019 MLS All-Star team and the Best XI.
In the MLS is Back Tournament, Moralez scored to seal a victory over Toronto FC in the Round of 16. In a rough year for many, Moralez scored just once more. He rocketed a first-time finish into the upper corner to beat Montreal. There's a reason why Ian Joy, the NYCFC commentator, calls him the "little genius." On Decision Day, Moralez registered half of his assists on the year, the first a corner onto the head of Alexander Callens, the second for Gary Mackay-Steven. After finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference, Orlando City and Rodrigo Schlegel sent NYCFC home early.
In 2021, Maxi Moralez played an integral role to the team as they finally reached the ultimate goal. He spent the majority of the season playmaking, per usual, scoring his first goal in late July during a 5-0 beatdown of Orlando City. In August, Moralez dished out a helper on both goals against New England. His clipped ball over the top was knocked home by Castellanos. His back post cross later on met Castellanos once again. Moralez smashed home a shot at the back post off a back heel pass from Jesus Medina. After Taty went for the spectacular overhead kick and saw it saved, Maxi cleaned it up by scoring on the second bite of the apple.
Counting the last two matches of the regular season and the playoffs, Maxi Moralez contributed to a goal in each of the final six games. On Decision Day, his cross sat up for Castellanos to earn a point. NYCFC hosted Atlanta United in the knockout round at Yankee Stadium, where Moralez once again picked out Taty on a cross. They advanced to play New England, a game in which NYCFC won in penalties after Maxi earned a secondary assist. Next up was the Union, who were met by a Moralez quick response goal, and a loss at home. The Portland Timbers welcomed Moralez's side to Providence Park for MLS Cup 2021. Maxi Moralez whipped a free kick in, and who else but Taty Castellanos was there to head it home. In the penalty kick shootout, Moralez picked his spot. NYCFC claimed victory in penalties, and hoisted MLS Cup.
In 2022, Moralez added another 9 assists to his massive total. On June 29th, he assisted a trio of goals for the second time in his MLS career. No. 10 has had some really good games against FC Cincinnati. After facing a 3-0 deficit and Maxi missing a penalty, it was game time. Moralez assisted Heber at the stroke of halftime to cut the deficit to 3-2. His free kick deep into first half stoppage time was headed home by Heber as well, calling for a wild 3-3 first half. He then set up a Gabi Pereira rocket for a 4-3 lead, the match ended 4-4. In Taty's final match at the club, it was Maxi who stole the show with a goal from a near impossible angle. His lovely finish in Orlando equalized a match in August.
NYCFC played for the 2022 Campeones Cup against Liga MX champions Atlas, and it was Moralez who scored the capper of that one with quick feet. NYCFC finished in third place. In the first playoff match, Moralez touched one to the back post to defeat Inter Miami. Just over five minutes into the next postseason matchup with CF Montreal, Moralez found the ball at his feet close to goal, and he squeezed it into the gap to open the scoring. Despite the team's loss in the Eastern Conference Final at Philadelphia, Moralez showed up in the big game with a low, long range strike into the bottom left corner. At 35 years of age, he scored in every playoff game NYCFC player. In December, Moralez left NYCFC after six season to join his boyhood club in Racing Club. After just months there, he terminated his contract and returned to NYCFC. Sadly, Moralez ruptured his ACL after playing just 316 minutes in 2023, but he will likely be back next year after signing through 2024. Maxi Moralez is a club legend at New York City FC. For all his contributions, he kicks off the thirties and comes in at #39.
YEAR | CLUB | MINUTES | GOALS | ASSISTS |
2023 | NYC | 316 | 0 | 0 |
2022 | NYC | 2,105 | 2 | 9 |
2021 | NYC | 2,385 | 3 | 11 |
2020 | NYC | 875 | 1 | 4 |
2019 | NYC | 2,434 | 7 | 20 |
2018 | NYC | 2,818 | 8 | 16 |
2017 | NYC | 2,523 | 5 | 9 |
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