Maxi Moralez is the engine powering NYCFC’s playoff run

Everyone knows the goaltending prowess of Matt Freese and the scoring ability of Alonso Martinez, but when it comes to leadership for New York City FC, there has been no more important player on their roster than 38-year-old Maxi Moralez.

The Argentine MLS veteran helped lift New York City FC to the Eastern Conference Finals with his goal against Philadelphia, but speaking to the players in the NYCFC lineup, his importance to the club goes deeper than just his ability to step up in big moments.

“To be fair, players like Maxi make stuff very easy,” NYCFC defender Tayvon Gray told The Post. “He’s very good at guiding you through things. His experience speaks for itself, and he’s been through it. Especially, he’s been through it with me, so I can say he’s amazing in that aspect. And for some reason, he has his best performances in playoffs. I swear, it’s honestly amazing to see. I love that, though. Big players step up in big moments.”

Moralez had cemented himself in New York City FC lore even before his goal against the Union on Sunday night.

He was a part of the squad that captured the franchise’s first MLS Cup championship in 2021, has scored six career playoff goals and has tallied 29 goals with NYCFC since joining the club in 2017.

On the same playing field, he has become an irreplaceable leader on a club that has an average age of 24.5.

“There’s a lot that goes on throughout the week since Day 1, and Maxi is a leading figure in that whole spectrum,” head coach Pascal Jansen said about his leadership. “You can see he can translate a whole lot of things on the pitch. Obviously, we also have our conversations off the pitch, as well, but he is one of the main characters.

“He’s in a good place at the moment. He is very important on and off the field, but don’t forget all the other guys behind the scenes because there’s a lot of them that take their responsibility, and Maxi is one of them.”

Moralez has taken his leadership role with the club head-on and described the kind words from his teammates as something that “fills me with gratitude.”

“It’s very difficult to leave a mark in this environment,” Moralez told The Post. “Today, I get to be here helping the younger players because of my age and experience. And then, when people recognize that, it’s always nice. Really, it’s what remains after football — leaving a legacy and making sure people remember you in a positive light.”

Moralez will not have an issue with being remembered in a “positive light” by his teammates and the fans, some of whom took to social media this week to create photoshopped images of a statue of the Argentine outside NYCFC’s new home in Willets Point.

At 38, Moralez’s time in MLS is closer to the end than the beginning. Speculation has gone on for much of the 2025 season that it could be his last.

Moralez has not said when he would retire but said Thursday that he was feeling “good physically at the moment.”

“We’ll see what happens after the last match, but the idea is to see if it’s possible to continue and obviously keep growing in every aspect for the day when the time comes to leave,” he said.

That next match will see New York City FC face Inter Miami for a chance to catapult the club to its second MLS Cup Final in four seasons, with the opposing side led by the other Argentine in Major League Soccer, Lionel Messi.

Moralez called the upcoming match “everything” for the club.

“There’s a trophy at stake [if we win], which will obviously be very difficult because we’re playing against one of the best teams,” he said. “One that has the best player in history. It’s always exciting. Honestly, we’re going to face the best, and to win it, you have to face them. So, really, it’s a moment to enjoy responsibly, but also to enjoy it because you don’t always reach a final. So when you’re there, you enjoy it responsibly and, well, try to win it.”