Lisandro Martinez has a terrible injury record at Man Utd but when he’s fit he is the one player capable of changing the way the team plays.
Lisandro Martinez is having an excellent World Cup with Argentina
Four years ago, Lisandro Martinez was becoming a superstar at Manchester United but had a more fringe role for Argentina as they won the World Cup in Qatar. In 2026, Martinez is the main man for his country at a time when his future at Old Trafford is more uncertain than ever.
Martinez made an immediate impact when he joined United from Ajax for £57million and quickly emerged as a fan favourite due to his aggressive, combative style. Now 28, he remains unique in the options at centre-back for Michael Carrick and can change the game tactically for his club.
The problem has been staying fit. He has suffered serious injuries over the last four years and has been able to start just 65 of 152 Premier League games, never more than 24 in a season. The last three campaigns have brought just 41 starts in total.
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It’s been another season of frustration for Martinez at Old Trafford. He missed five matches due to a calf injury under Michael Carrick, then picked up a harsh red card against Leeds while saw him miss three games through suspension.
He did play every minute of the final three games of the season and is keeping that momentum going during the World Cup. In 2022, Martinez started against Mexico and the Netherlands, but he was an unused substitute in the final and couldn’t nail down a place in the side.
Now, he partners Cristian Romero in defence and has been outstanding as Lionel Scaloni’s side have recorded Lionel Messi-inspired wins against Algeria and Austria. Argentina have kept back-to-back clean sheets.
Martinez’s quality on the ball was on show against Austria, where he consistently pinged passes into the midfield and broke the lines, opening up space for Argentina to attack into. The stats showed he had 83 touches, a 94% pass accuracy, made six passes into the final third and won three of his four aerial duels.
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These are the kind of displays that showed why United would be reluctant to give up on him. Martinez’s contract expires at the end of next season, though United can extend it by one year. At the moment, that might be the most likely outcome given that injury record.
Carrick would love to have Martinez available for a full season. He is United’s most combative one-on-one defender, but as a left-footer and with a superb range of passing, his ability to take the ball under pressure and find sharp forward passes can change the way the team plays.
There is a reason every United manager has loved Martinez, because that kind of player is such a tactical weapon. He is also a driver of standards in training, which makes him a favourite of the coaching staff.
But he needs to show he can stay fit to turn a long-term contract extension into his 30s. Ineos have made a big play of having the club’s highest earners available, and at the moment, Martinez hasn’t been available enough.
When he is fit and in the team, his quality isn’t in question, and his start to the World Cup shows that is the case. Carrick will be hoping he can do that for United next season.
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