Emiliano Martínez regains Palmeiras place as he eyes World Cup call-up | OneFootball

Emiliano Martínez has regained prominence at Palmeiras as he hopes for a Uruguay World Cup call-up, starting against Cerro Porteño in the Libertadores. According to Nosso Palestra, Abel Ferreira praised the midfielder despite the defeat at Allianz Parque.

The selection surprised given Abel had all his midfielders available. Martínez returned by choice and lined up with Marlon Freitas and Andreas Pereira, a set-up that allowed Andreas to push higher.

On that showing, he could keep his place against Flamengo on Saturday 23 at 21:00 Brasília time in the Brasileiro. It is set to be his final outing before Marcelo Bielsa names 26 for the World Cup. In March he was among 28 picked for friendlies.

Signed in February 2025, he was one of 12 arrivals, initially competing with Aníbal Moreno and Richard Ríos, later with Lucas Evangelista and Andreas Pereira. Even after Ríos and Moreno left, Marlon’s signing pushed him back to the bench as Marlon and Andreas settled as starters.

He ended 2025 out of favour, with Bruno Fuchs preferred as an emergency holding midfielder in the Libertadores final ahead of Martínez and Aníbal. In 2026 he has played 15 times, seven starts. In 2025 he featured in 48 matches and scored one goal.

Before Palmeiras the 25-year-old featured for Red Bull Bragantino in 2021 and for Midtjylland in Denmark. He is contracted until December 2029. Uruguay are in Group H with Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde and Spain, starting on 15 against the Saudis in Miami.

Source: Nosso Palestra