Lisandro Martínez shines at Manchester, eyes Argentina spot too

Lisandro Martínez is experiencing the beginning of 2026 with continuity at Manchester United , after a 2025 marked by a ligament rupture that kept him out of competition for several months. The Argentine defender has established himself as a starter and is accumulating minutes in a crucial year heading towards the World Cup.

So far this year, United has played 720 official minutes and Martínez has only missed 11. In the Premier League , he has played all the matches and has solidified his position in the central defense alongside Harry Maguire.

Since Michael Carrick's arrival on the bench, the team has accumulated four wins and one draw. With the Argentine starting, United has achieved three clean sheets, more than in the rest of the season without him as a starter.

His only early exit in 2026 was against Brighton in the FA Cup, when he was substituted at the 79th minute. He completed the rest of the matches without physical issues.

In the recent 1-1 draw against West Ham, he played the full 90 minutes in a match that United equalized in the 96th minute after starting at a disadvantage.

Martínez's recovery and consistency also have an impact on the Argentine National Team. Lionel Scaloni can once again count on one of his regular central defenders with competitive rhythm in one of the main European leagues.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.