Ranking the Top 75 MLS Players of 2024: 35. Alonso Martinez

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Alonso Martinez may just be the surprise of 2024 and the most underrated attacker in the league at this point in time. He came out of virtually nowhere and probably did not get all of the respect he deserves for the season he put together. He was incredibly consistent for an NYCFC team that needed someone to step up. The club has been known for its exciting attacking play, but that was not exactly the case entering the recent campaign. In the end, the team rode the contributions of its breakout striker all the way to the finish line. Martinez sat on the bench for all four of the opening games of the season before he finally got his chance.

The Costa Rican made his name known when he opened his NYCFC account with a crucial goal in a road draw at Miami. The game marked his first start for the club, but even then, he was still not given a real role. Martinez fought for position in the box to score a 90'+3 winner against Charlotte while playing just eight minutes off the bench. Still, he did not pencil his name in as New York City attempted to bring its big money strikers in Jovan Mijatovic and Monsef Bakrar alive, but the production just was not there. His true introduction to the rest of the league was a 10-minute hat trick against San Jose, spanning from 85' to 90'+5. Nothing sums up his 2024 story more than the fact that he was an unused sub just three games later. At long last, he became a regular starter and scored a brace in the Hudson River Derby. He contributed a classy playoff goal against FC Cincinnati as well.

It took quite a while for the 26-year-old to convince Nick Cushing he was the man for the scoring job, but it beared fruits the flavor of 17 goals in the end. Mijatovic was purchased for over $8m and Bakrar came in for $2m. Martinez arrived on a free transfer and tripled the goals of the $10m striker pair. NYCFC has been in a strange spot attacking-wise since the departure of Taty Castellanos, but perhaps Martinez can provide some stability there. He scored an unreal 0.83 goals per 90 and 0.74 xGOT. He attempted 1.61 shots on target per 90 and remained hungry and motivated throughout. He will look to continue proving himself in 2025. Martinez comes in at No. 35.

35) ALONSO MARTINEZ | FWD, NYC | PER 90 STATS (PERCENTILE)

17 GOALS

0.83 GOALS PER 90 (96%)

0.74 xGOT PER 90 (92%)

1.61 SHOTS ON TARGET PER 90 (89%)