Lisandro Martínez came through Newell’s Old Boys and then played for Defensa y Justicia in Argentina before joining Ajax in 2019. In Amsterdam he won Eredivisie titles and was used both at centre-back and in midfield.
Manchester United signed him in 2022 for around £57 million. Although he is only 1.75 m, his aggression, timing and passing quickly made him a fans’ favourite, nicknamed “The Butcher”. He won the League Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024.
For Argentina, Martínez won the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 Copa América. Serious injuries have interrupted his time at United.
Playing style
Martínez is a combative, left-footed centre-back who is aggressive in the tackle and excellent in the air despite being only 1.75 m. He is also a very good passer, able to play long balls and break lines with his distribution. His aggression and leadership made him a fans’ favourite at United. Serious injuries have interrupted his time at the club, but when fit he is one of the team’s most important defenders.
International career
Martínez made his Argentina debut in 2019 and won the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 Copa América. He is part of a strong group of Argentine defenders.
Career in numbers
Since his first senior season in 2016/17, Martínez has made 294 club appearances and scored 13 goals in all competitions for 4 clubs. His most productive season in front of goal was 2020/21, when he scored 3 times in 42 games for Ajax. His busiest campaign was 2022/23, with 45 appearances. So far in 2026/27 he has 1 goal in 5 appearances for Manchester United. The full season-by-season record is in the Stats section of this profile.
