Maxi Moralez and the Day That Changed the World Forever
Maxi Moralez left New York City a club legend. However, a look back to the pandemic shows that the club lost much more than just one of the greatest MLS attacking midfielders of this era.
March 11, 2020 was the last day before the world changed forever.
It was the day the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic.
The emerging crisis quickly overshadowed what was supposed to be a celebratory day for New York City Football Club. The club, in its sixth competitive season, made its debut in the CONCACAF Champions League against Mexican powerhouse Tigres, facing a Liga MX team in continental play for the first time. Despite playing well, the City faithful left Red Bull Arena disappointed after conceding a goal in stoppage time. However, the result of a soccer game quickly became the least of everyone’s problems.
While riding the PATH train ride home from New Jersey, many were hit with the sobering news that the NBA was suspending its season in wake of Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert testing positive for coronavirus. The next day, commissioner Don Garber announced that MLS would follow suit.
In the days that followed, the pandemic hit New York City FC and its namesake city in full force. Nicole Chayet Singer, the club’s Senior Director of Media Relations, was the first to test positive. A week later, the club announced that an unnamed member of the sporting department also contracted the virus. Later, The Athletic reported that NYCFC “had multiple positive tests among players and team staff”, which had not been publicly disclosed in the aftermath of the initial press release.
On March 20, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo closed all non-essential businesses by executive order, placing the entire state on lockdown. Life would never be the same again.
The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting lockdowns had a disparate impact on different individuals, and this was no different for the players of MLS. Lacking basic details about a disease that ultimately killed over a million people in the United States, the early days of the lockdown created a hellscape of uncertainty.
While domestic players faced difficulties during this time, they were often able to rely on the support of friends and family or, at the very least, remain in their home country. However, the situation was vastly different for foreign players. With MLS being the most diverse soccer league in the world, boasting players from 86 different nationalities in 2020, many foreign players were left stranded as the virus spread and lockdowns were implemented across the United States and rest of the world.
Although some veterans, such as NYCFC’s Maximiliano Moralez, were better established in the United States and had familial support during the lockdowns, many younger players found themselves isolated and alone abroad. With soccer the focus of their day-to-day lives, its absence was deeply felt. Recognizing the need for support, Moralez extended an invitation to host two of his younger teammates, 21-year-old Valentín “Taty” Castellanos and 22-year-old Jesús Medina, at his home during the lockout.
“Whenever we get up, we watch the news and see new things. Hopefully, we can all get out of this together. Nobody can go out here anymore because there are more and more cases and people are very scared,” Taty told the Argentine newspaper Clarín. “I thank [Maxi] because he invited me to spend it with his family.”
Anyone who has come into contact with Maxi Moralez would not be surprised at his compassion or the outcome of events that transpired during the lockdown.
The diminutive playmaker was the talisman and standard bearer in the post-David Villa era, leading them to the club’s first MLS Cup victory in 2021. Despite his aversion to the captain’s armband, the Argentine was NYCFC’s true leader on and off the field. This is a testament to his character, he did not require a title or platitudes to lead and inspire his teammates.
Moralez provided mentorship and guidance to NYCFC's young Latin American attacking core, including Castellanos, Medina, and Santiago Rodríguez, which was another aspect of his leadership that was understated.
Maxi's relationship with Castellanos was particularly special. The two Argentines bonded over cups of yerba mate, and Moralez played an instrumental role in helping Castellanos grow from a hotheaded winger ready to flop at a moment's notice to a complete forward with a (somewhat) better control of his emotions on the pitch. The chemistry between the two helped drive Castellanos to the 2021 Golden Boot as he nearly single-handedly led NYCFC to the playoffs, culminating in their combination on NYCFC’s go-ahead goal in the MLS Cup.
Although Jesús Medina did not develop into the offensive threat NYCFC hoped for, he established himself as a crucial defensive cog in their pressing scheme, quarterbacked by Moralez.
Santiago Rodríguez went from a midseason addition to a key starter in the 2021 MLS Cup and a MLS Best XI caliber player last season. His impressive performances made him a fitting heir to Moralez's No. 10 jersey.
All three players relied on Moralez as a club veteran to help them integrate into the club, league, and country. Their admiration for Moralez was evident, as they were often the first NYCFC players to come to his aid when the opposition regularly decided that fouling him was the only way they could defend against the NYC attack. And, of course, there was no better feeling than scoring a goal and having Maxi jump into your arms to celebrate.
During the pandemic, Maxi opened his home to two teammates in a time of great darkness. The following year, they repaid his kindness by helping him bring home a championship.
Undoubtedly, there are countless untold stories about Maxi Moralez that should have been shared. Many have been unfortunately shrouded by City Football Group's public relations strategy, which only prioritizes soccer, in an example of how MLS clubs often struggle to accurately and authentically engage with non-English speaking audiences and players. As a result, aspects of Moralez's impact and legacy off the field may have gone unnoticed or underappreciated.
What’s clear is that his production on the field will be much easier to replace than the humanity that Maximiliano Moralez brought to New York City Football Club.❧
Image: World turn'd upside down, 1646 pamphlet
