Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez opened up on the most difficult phase of his career and how he almost hung up his boots.
The 28-year-old suffered an ACL injury in February 2025, and spent around 10 months on the sidelines.
The Argentine made his return to action last December, before reclaiming his starting role at Man Utd in January, when Michael Carrick took over from Ruben Amorim.
Lisandro Martinez thought about retiring after ACL injury
Despite coming off difficult times, Martinez remains an automatic starter in Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina, alongside his defensive partner, Cristian Romero.
The MUFC star played an integral role in the Albiceleste’s triumphant World Cup campaign in Qatar 2022, and he has been decisive in the current edition as well.
On Friday night, Martinez played an integral role in Argentina’s hard-fought victory against the tournament’s ultimate underdogs, Cape Verde.
The former Ajax star set up Lionel Messi for the opener with an inch-perfect long ball. He then restored Argentina’s lead in the second minute of added time. The Africans levelled the score again, but their historic campaign was undone by a late own-goal that saw the South Americans advance to the Round of 16.
LISANDRO MARTINEZ SCORED A SCREAMER 🤯🩵 pic.twitter.com/zl749ucV55
— utdreport (@utdreport) July 4, 2026
Following his Man of the Match performance, Martinez admitted the injury he suffered last year almost spelt the end of his playing career, but his daughter’s birth inspired his comeback.
“When I think about everything I went through because of my injury, it makes me want to cry”, said the defender in his post-match interview with TyC via Fabrizio Romano.
“I was considering retiring from football. In the first month that happened to me, where I just didn’t want to suffer anymore, you know? Because I had already gone through other foot injuries when I fractured my fifth metatarsal and this one was honestly the worst, the worst of all.
“I was really hit low, but then my daughter was born, and that kind of balanced everything out for me. I saw how my wife gave birth and the immense effort she made, and I said to myself, ‘How am I not going to keep fighting?'”
Martinez remains vital for Argentina & Man Utd
At the age of 28, Martinez still has many years left in the tank. The Argentine isn’t the first player to consider retirement after suffering an agonising injury, and he luckily managed to regain his peak condition just a few months following his return to the pitch.
Like the majority of his Man Utd teammates, the Gualeguay native has had his highs and lows over the past few years, but he has been one of their most reliable servants when fit.
Lisandro Martinez’s game by numbers vs. Cape Verde:
98% pass accuracy
74 carries (!!!)
21 passes into the final third (!!!)
6 clearances
4 ball recoveries
5 progressive carries
0 x dribbled past
1 goal
1 assistWHAT A PLAYER. 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/LHylYNQEQj
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) July 4, 2026
In addition to his die-hard attitude and willingness to do the dirty work at the back, Martinez is widely considered one of the finest ball-playing defenders in the Premier League. His MUFC teammate, Amad Diallo, hails him as a ‘perfect’ player.
Both Carrick and Scaloni have several other important options on the back, but both managers agree that a fit Martinez should be one of the first names on the teamsheet.
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