Lisandro Martínez shines for Manchester, eyes Argentina spot too | OneFootball

Lisandro Martínez is experiencing the start of 2026 with consistent playing time 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 key year leading up to the World Cup.

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

Since Michael Carrick took over as manager, the team has recorded four wins and one draw. With the Argentine in the starting lineup, 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 in the 79th minute. He completed the rest of the matches without any physical issues.

In the recent 1-1 draw against West Ham, he once again played the full 90 minutes in a match that United tied in the 96th minute after initially falling behind.

Martínez’s recovery and consistency are also having an impact on the Argentina National Team. Lionel Scaloni can once again count on one of his regular center-backs, who is in competitive form in one of Europe’s top leagues.

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