While Matt Freese is renowned for his goaltending skills and Alonso Martinez for his scoring prowess, when it comes to leading New York City FC, no player has been more pivotal than 38-year-old Maxi Moralez.

The seasoned Argentine playmaker played a crucial role in propelling NYCFC to the Eastern Conference Finals with his decisive goal against Philadelphia. However, according to his teammates, Moralez’s significance extends far beyond his knack for rising to the occasion during crucial matches.

“Honestly, having players like Maxi makes everything simpler,” NYCFC defender Tayvon Gray shared with The Post. “He’s incredibly adept at providing guidance. His wealth of experience is evident, and he’s navigated these challenges before. He’s particularly been a guiding force for me, which is invaluable. It’s remarkable how he consistently delivers standout performances in the playoffs. Witnessing it is truly impressive. Big players shine in big moments, and Maxi embodies that.”

Moralez had already secured his place in NYCFC history prior to his recent goal against the Union. As part of the team that clinched the franchise’s inaugural MLS Cup in 2021, he has netted six playoff goals and scored 29 goals overall since joining the club in 2017.

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.”