The Costa Rican talisman is in the top ten of all goal scorers in Major League Soccer, but El Cliníco has been less than clinical in 2025.
This isn't to say that Alonso Martínez is having a bad year by any means, as he leads the New York City FC squad in goals, shots, and shots on target. There could and should be more production from the striker in his second season leading the line in the Big Apple.
El Cliníco not living up to the nickname?
Martínez, who finished 2024 with 18 goals and four assists in all competitions, has eight goals in the MLS this season, five behind Golden Boot leader Tai Baribo of the Philadelphia Union. He's got the most goal contributions in the squad with nine, which is almost surprising considering the slew of chances he's missed through 16 matches.
With an expected goals (xG) number that's good for second in the league behind Chicago Fire FC's Hugo Cuypers (13.44 xG), it's clear that Martinez should be scoring more. It's not for a lack of trying, as Martínez has fired off 59 shots in the league thus far, the fourth most in the MLS behind LAFC's Denis Bouanga (68), Inter Miami's Lionel Messi (65), and Nashville's Hany Mukhtar (63). He's hit the target with 28 of those 59 shots, also good for fourth in the league behind the same trio of forwards.
Despite scoring eight goals, the Costa Rican international should have more. Martínez has missed 15 big chances this season. Performances like what fans saw during the 3-1 win over the Chicago Fire in May, where Martinez missed a one-on-one against goalkeeper Chris Brady and fired wide of a wide-open net from inside six yards, have become more commonplace in 2025. Even during his "off games" he still scores goals, grabbing a late goal from the penalty spot in that same win over Chicago.
Martínez hasn't been as prolific as many may have hoped, and it's difficult to pin down why. Martínez has carried the brunt of the goal-scoring burden for New York City FC this season following the departure of Santí Rodríguez and without a suitable replacement brought in to cover for his output.
Tactically, little has changed for Martínez under Pascal Jansen in 2025 outside of his playing time. This season, the Costa Rican is averaging 87 minutes per game in MLS, up from 62 minutes per game in 2024. He remains the main No. 9 option for Pascal Jansen, just as he did for Nick Cushing last season.
His shooting metrics haven't changed much either, with Martínez taking an average of 3.51 shots per 90 minutes, similar to his 3.33 shots per 90 taking in 2024. The same can be said for shots on target per 90, with 1.62 per 90 in 2025, down from 1.63 per 90 in 2024.
The pressure, physically from more prepared opposition defenders aware of his threat than in 2024 and mentally from the burden of having to be an outlet for a wildly inconsistent attacking core, weighs heavily; he's missing chances none thought possible back in 2024.
But the blame can't just be deflected towards a lack of suitable firepower around Martínez adding extra pressure. Experienced attacking players like Hannes Wolf and Maxi Moralez have at times struggled to lighten the load on Martínez's shoulders, with the duo scoring just seven goals between them. They've attempted to compensate by creating a combined 53 chances this season, while swinging in 29 accurate crosses.
This is why it's so difficult to pass Martínez with flying colors, because the production could be better, and by all statistical indications, it should be. Martínez is getting chances to score, either through his teammates or by creating the opportunity himself, but is struggling to convert those chances as efficiently as in 2024.
Big second half beckons
With eight goals and one assist in 16 matches, Martínez is on pace for a second consecutive 17-goal league season for NYCFC. As the new focal point of Pascal Jansen's front line, his output should be increasing, not stagnating.
As other experienced players like Wolf and Moralez struggle to find the net consistently, and younger players like Agustin Ojeda and Julián Fernández struggle to find the net at all, Martínez is the man who must continue to step up if New York City has any chance of making noise come playoff time.
Alonso Martínez is having another great season for New York City FC. Considering he was signed as a relative afterthought from the Belgian second tier, and now he's single-handedly keeping New York City in games, he still deserves his plaudits.
That being said, the underlying numbers say that he should be scoring more goals, and the eye test backs it up.
