Club leader in matches played, goal contributions, returns for 10th season in City Blue

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

Long time New York City FC legend Maximiliano Moralez will be returning to the club for the 2026 MLS season. The 38-year-old Argentine has been a mainstay in the midfield, holding club records for matches played, goal contributions, and both goals and assists in the postseason.

Moralez joined the club back in 2017, briefly returning to his first ever club in Argentina’s Racing Club between the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Now NYC’s #10 returns for a 10th Major League Soccer campaign, following up a phenomenal veteran season where he started in every match and came up big in postseason clashes.

Maxi set up a trio of postseason scores, netting one himself and providing assists for the other two. In a heated Eastern Conference Final against Inter Miami, Maxi stood firm, even getting in the faces of Lionel Messi and Rodrigo de Paul.

That clash featured some trash talk about Racing Club, with all three players hailing from Argentina. While it was expected that Moralez would hang up his boots after his return home, he has instead aged like a fine wine in New York City.

While age always gets the final say at the professional level, the club can once again turn to the veteran leadership of Moralez, and in a pinch he is sure to deliver big moments to help push the team forward as they look to return to the Eastern Conference Final and this time make a second appearance in the MLS Cup Final.

“I’m very happy to be back with New York City FC for another season,” said Moralez after penning his new deal. “This Club is home for me, and I’m motivated to keep helping the team and working toward our objectives. We know what we’re capable of as a group, and my focus is on giving everything I have to help us compete and win trophies this season.”