Maxi Moralez Re-Signs With NYC

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.”

New York City FC Extinguish the Fire, Move to 6th in East

New York City FC are starting to put it together. They now hold the 4th best defensive record in MLS as they climb the Eastern Conference standings. (Photo: Noah Zimmerman, @n.z.media)

By Noah Zimmerman

Noah@queensledger.com

Three goals and two red cards gave New York City FC a comfortable win at Yankee Stadium over Memorial Day Weekend. After conceding an opening goal to the visiting Chicago Fire, NYC found the net three times in the second half for a second straight win.

Chicago’s goal came in the 19th minute, a strike by Philip Zinckernagel with an assist by Jonathan Dean. New York left too much open space around the top of the box, allowing for a long-distance shot to settle in the bottom left corner. At the half-hour mark Chicago nearly doubled the lead, but the play was ruled offside.

The defensive task was made easier by a reckless move by Chicago’s Brian Gutierrez. The central midfielder seemed to jump into the body of NYC midfielder Aiden O’Neill, catching him in the face with his elbow. Gutierrez was given a straight red card and Chicago was sent down to 10 men.

NYC capitalized in the second half with a goal by Monsef Bakrar and a wonderful strike by Hannes Wolf. After a controversial second red for the Fire, Alonso Martinez sealed a 3-1 win from the penalty spot. 

The Boys in Blue entered the week 6th in the East. After their midweek match vs Houston they head to Nashville on Saturday before hosting Atlanta on June 12th.

JJ: “As Subway Series Dawns, The Soto Sub Plot Emerges…”

By: John Jastremski

It’s truly understood that New York City has a major case of Mid May Knicks fever. 

When you are one game away from the Conference Finals, that is to be expected. 

However, the first installment of the Subway Series awaits on Friday night and the anticipation has been building since last December. 

Juan Soto will make his return to Yankee Stadium for the first time wearing Orange and Blue. 

After a year in which Yankees fans showered him with love, praise and admiration, the tone on Friday night will be drastically different. 

Imagine the jeers that David Ortiz and Jose Altuve have received from the Bronx faithful over the last few seasons, well I think that hostility towards Soto will be even worse.

Juan Soto chose the Mets, you can’t imagine the Yankee faithful are particularly happy about that. 

It will get lost in the Soto subplot, but the first month plus of the season heading into the Subway Series has been rather glass half full for both teams. 

The Mets through 42 games are double digit games over .500 and in first place in the NL East, and that’s without Juan Soto contributing much through the month of April. 

It was only a matter of time before Soto joined the party and he has been one of baseball’s hottest hitters through the early portion of May. 

In Yankee land, despite some pot holes along the way, the boys from the Bronx lead the AL East at 24-17. 

Aaron Judge hasn’t missed a beat even without Juan Soto hitting in front of him and is on a triple crown pace.

And despite the Yankee pitching staff suffering a whole lot of adversity, newly acquired Max Fried has been everything you could hope for and then some leading the staff. 

In fact, it makes you wonder in Yankee land. Where would this team be if they hadn’t signed the lefty in the offseason. 

It’s mid may so I would be careful with rash judgements either way regarding the result of this 3 game series, but to have an October like feel to this weekend is rather exciting. 

As if we needed any more excitement right about now in the Big City…

You can listen to my podcast New York, New York after every Knicks Playoff or Subway Series Game on The Ringer Podcast Network on Spotify/Apple Podcasts. You can watch me nightly on Honda Sports Nite following Mets postgame on SNY.

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