Maximiliano Moralez

Maximiliano Nicolás "Maxi" Moralez (born 27 February 1987) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Major League Soccer club New York City FC. He is nicknamed frasquito (English: little flask).

Maxi Moralez
Moralez with New York City F. C. in 2022
Personal information
Full name Maximiliano Nicolás Moralez[1]
Date of birth (1987-02-27) 27 February 1987
Place of birth Granadero Baigorria, Argentina
Height 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)[2]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
 New York City FC
Number 27
Youth career
Racing
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2007 Racing 52 (8)
2007–2009 FC Moscow 6 (0)
2008 → Racing (loan) 36 (8)
2009–2011 Vélez Sársfield 72 (20)
2011–2015 Atalanta 142 (18)
2016–2017 León 34 (6)
2017–2022 New York City FC 162 (26)
2023 Racing 14 (1)
2023- New York City FC
International career‡
2007 Argentina U20 16 (5)
2011 Argentina 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:36, 22 June 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16 July 2015 (UTC)

Club career

Moralez started playing professionally for Racing Club in the Argentine Primera División during the 2005 Clausura tournament, entering the field on a 2–2 draw with Colón.[3] In 2007, Moralez was bought by FC Moscow. However, after only half a season in the Russian club, he was loaned back to Racing Club.[4] Moralez helped his club avoid relegation during the 2007–08 season, scoring the winning goal against Belgrano in the relegation playoff.

For the 2009 Clausura tournament, Moralez was bought by Vélez Sársfield. During his first season in the club, he helped the team become Argentine champion, playing 14 (out of 19) games and scoring 5 goals.[5] He scored the winning goal against Huracán on the 83rd minute of the final game, giving Vélez the 1–0 victory necessary to win the championship. During the following tournament, the 2009 Apertura, Moralez was Vélez' top goalscorer (along Jonathan Cristaldo) with 5 goals each.

On 5 March 2011, Moralez renewed his contract with Vélez until June 2013.[6] During that semester, he won his second league title with the club (the 2011 Clausura) playing 15 of the 19 games, and scoring 4 goals.[7] He also played 11 of the 12 games of his team's Copa Libertadores semi-finalist campaign, scoring 5 goals.

On 27 July 2011, Atalanta B.C., recently promoted to the Serie A, paid Moralez's buyout clause to Vélez Sársfield (€8 million for the 50% transfer rights owned by Vélez).[8] The Argentine midfielder was introduced by his new club three days later.

On 24 December 2015, Jesús Martínez Murguía (León's President), confirmed that Moralez would be playing the 2016 tournament with Club León.

On 15 February 2017, New York City FC announced that he had been signed as a Designated Player.[9]

International career

In 2007, Moralez was called for the Argentina under-20 squad for the South American Youth Championship held in Paraguay. Later that year he was part of Argentina FIFA W-20 World Cup title winning team. He played along Sergio Agüero and Mauro Zárate in the attack. Moralez was third highest scorer in the tournament (bronze shoe) and was named second best player (silver ball), behind his teammate Agüero.

In November 2010, Moralez was selected as part of an Argentine league squad to train twice weekly with the Argentina national team.[10] He made his senior international debut on a 4–1 friendly victory over Venezuela on 16 March 2011.[11]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 30 October 2022[12][13]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Racing Club 2004–05 Argentine Primera División 4000——40
2005–06 15100——151
2006–07 33700——337
Total 528000000528
FC Moscow 2007 Russian Premier League 6010——70
Racing Club (loan) 2007–08 Argentine Primera División 18300——183
2008–09 18500——185
Total 368000000368
Vélez Sársfield 2008–09 Argentine Primera División 1450000—145
2009–10 2670015[lower-alpha 1]0—417
2010–11 3280011[lower-alpha 2]5—4313
Total 722000265009825
Atalanta 2011–12 Serie A 34611——357
2012–13 29120——311
2013–14 32510——335
2014–15 30510——315
2015–16 17111——182
Total 1421862000014820
León 2015–16 Liga MX 18421——205
2016–17 16250——212
Total 346710000417
New York City FC 2017 Major League Soccer 29510— 2[lower-alpha 3]0325
2018 32800—3[lower-alpha 3]1359
2019 29731—1[lower-alpha 3]0338
2020 13[lower-alpha 4]1—4[lower-alpha 5]03[lower-alpha 6]1202
2021 303— 1[lower-alpha 7]04[lower-alpha 3]1354
2022 292204[lower-alpha 8]14[lower-alpha 9]4397
Total 16226619117719435
Career total 50486204356177576103
  1. Seven appearances in Copa Sudamericana, eight appearances in Copa Libertadores
  2. Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores
  3. Appearance(s) in MLS Cup Playoffs
  4. Includes two appearances in MLS is Back Tournament group stage
  5. Appearance(s) in CONCACAF Champions League
  6. Two appearances and one goal in MLS is Back Tournament knockout stage, one appearance in MLS Cup Playoffs
  7. Appearance(s) in Leagues Cup
  8. Appearance(s) in CONCACAF Champions League
  9. One appearance and one goal in Campeones Cup, three appearances and three goals in MLS Cup Playoffs

Honours

Vélez Sársfield

New York City FC

Argentina U20

Individual

References
  1. "FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 – List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 5 July 2007. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 December 2013.
  2. "Maximiliano Moralez". New York City FC. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  3. "Closing '05 statistics". Argentine Soccer. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
  4. Maximiliano Moralez: «Hablamos con Sergio Romero de la posibilidad de volver a Racing» racingmaniacos.com.ar
  5. "Closing '09 statistics". Argentine Soccer. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
  6. "Maxi renovación" (in Spanish). Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield. 5 April 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  7. "Closing '11 statistics". Argentine Soccer. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  8. "Vélez, el nuevo millonario" (in Spanish). Cancha Llena. 24 August 2011. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
  9. Booth, Mark. "#WelcomeMaxi: Moralez Joins NYCFC as Third Designated Player". nycfc.com. New York City Football Club. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  10. Fernando Czyz (15 November 2010). "Batista inicia un nuevo proceso de selección local". Cancha Llena (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  11. "La Selección local goleó a Venezuela y aprobó el examen" (in Spanish). TyC Sports. 16 March 2011. Archived from the original on 24 April 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  12. "Profile". Argentine Soccer. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  13. "Profile". ESPN Deportes. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  14. "2021 MLS Cup". mlssoccer.com. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  15. "2019 MLS All-Star Roster". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  16. "MLS Fact and Record Book". Major League Soccer. p. 163. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
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