NYCFC must invest in Alonso Martínez and his popularity | OneFootball

When New York City FC signed Alonso Martínez in 2023, there were questions with how he would contribute to the team. It was thought he would be a depth piece, which he was during that half of a season he played with the Pigeons, or compete for the winger positions.

Then, in 2024, it took some time, but Martínez eventually became the starting striker. With the wings very crowded, he put in the work to play as the number nine. Once he began scoring goals consistently, there was no turning back. The Costa Rican was the team's center-forward. He scored 16 goals in the regular season despite not starting every game, especially in the beginning of 2024.

As a result, he was given a new contract. The forward already has three goals in four matches this season, and recently scored the incredible game-winner against the New England Revolution, proving his contract was worthwhile. His ability to score, get in scoring positions, and play as the striker is everything fans hoped for when Mounsef Bakrar was signed. He sadly has struggled, and instead, Martínez has turned into the scoring star.

Plus, supporters love the Costa Rican. He continues to grow as a star week in and week out. Moreover, the love for the player is heavily seen on social media, especially Facebook.

Alonso Martínez can grow the NYCFC fanbase

When NYCFC, posts about Martínez, those posts tend to get more likes compared to other posts. For example, in two of the last three posts featuring the striker, there are over 2,000 likes on the posts, with one having over 4,000. To get an idea of the difference, many posts tend to get under 100 likes, with game posts ranging from under 100 to a few hundred.

Then, one can see a lot of support from Costa Rican fans. The comments are filled with the country's flag and support for Martínez. Some might be NYCFC fans, but there are probably many who are not. As such, the Pigeons should try to use the Costa Rican's fame and popularity to grow the fanbase.

So, how can the club invest in the forward and his popularity? They are already starting to do so by making him the star of their social media pages. But they can also have him show up at more events. If there are fans of the player in the New York area, then perhaps they will come out to meet him. That could lead to Martínez encouraging them to attend NYCFC games and become supporters of the team.

Plus, New Jersey and New York are among the top five states in terms of the largest concentrations of the Costa Rican population. The team could use marketing strategies featuring the forward to encourage those of Costa Rican ancestry and immigrants to see him play.

Additionally, the team could have him encourage those outside of the country to watch their games. They can use the Costa Rican to grow the fanbase internationally, especially in Costa Rica. They can maybe plan a friendly with a Costa Rican team, especially one of the former sides of Martínez. This would allow NYCFC to become more visible in the country.

It is not just about the Costa Rican fans, but everyone. If Martínez continues to score and impact the Bronx side, then he can catch the casual soccer fans and grab their interest.

NYCFC must invest in the forward's popularity. This is a perfect time to grow the fanbase.