Argentinian media have shared their praise for Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez after his impressive performance in Argentina's 2-0 victory over Honduras, as he staked his claim for a place in the World Cup squad.
The 28-year-old centre-back secured his spot in Lionel Scaloni's squad despite a disrupted season at Old Trafford. Martinez missed the start of the campaign due to injury and a subsequent calf issue limited his playing time. He made 18 league appearances for United, starting the last three matches of the season, which helped keep his World Cup dream alive.
Martinez was part of the Argentina squad that won the World Cup in 2022 and produced a positive performance against Honduras ahead of this summer's tournament. Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez opened the scoring from the penalty spot, and Atletico Madrid's Giuliano Simeone doubled the lead after the break. Martinez helped his side keep a clean sheet and also provided an impressive moment in the opposing box.
Clarin's verdict
Argentinian outlet Clarin gave Martinez a rating of six for his efforts, noting that he faced little threat from the Honduran attack. His rating matched that of centre-back partner Nicolas Otamendi. Martinez was described as being "solid defensively" and did not experience any setbacks before being replaced by Cristian Romero shortly after the hour mark. However, it was his action in the other penalty area that attracted most attention. The defender "surprised everyone" with an overhead kick in Honduras' box. Although his effort went over the crossbar, the report stated it was almost a "spectacular goal."
La Nacion's assessment
La Nacion also rated Martinez's display as a six but labelled him a "dedicated soldier." The publication praised the United star for his "great intensity" and for "never letting up." Martinez proved himself to be "agile" after coming close to scoring with a bicycle kick. The outlet also praised his conditioning after overcoming his earlier fitness issues. The match report stated: "After several injuries that hampered his playing time at Manchester United, he looks fit and ready whenever needed." Martinez will hope to have impressed manager Scaloni, having featured in five of Argentina's seven games at the previous World Cup.
