Lisandro Martinez was the hero for Argentina as they beat Cape Verde 3-2 in the round of 32 to avoid a major World Cup scare

“I was considering retirement from football after I suffered an ACL injury last year,” an emotional Lisandro Martinez admitted following Argentina’s progression to the World Cup round of 16 on Friday night. The Manchester United defender has had a tough time with injuries since moving to Old Trafford, but in Miami he proved why he was right not to give up.

Martinez may fall into the shadow, like the rest of the team, of Lionel Messi, but there was no doubting he was his nation’s hero overnight. His incisive pass delivered another goal for Messi before he took centre stage in extra time to fire in Argentina’s second with the poise of a centre-forward.

Martinez enjoyed an excellent 98 per cent pass accuracy, including 21 passes into the final third from centre-back. The United man was not afraid to carry the ball either, completing 74 carries over the course of the game.

This offensive work did not compromise his defending either. Six clearances and four ball recoveries dragged his nation through the Cape Verde banana skin clash. This may have been Martinez’s standout performance so far this summer but it is by no means a one-off.

Throughout the World Cup, Martinez has been on top form. Having played the full 90 minutes against Algeria and Austria, keeping two clean sheets in the process, the centre-back was rested against Jordan as Lionel Scaloni saved the United man for the knockout stages. After Friday night, Martinez’s starting spot is not in doubt for his nation, but what about when he returns to England?

United have threatened to move on from Martinez during his injury absences. While he was missing for nearly the entirety of 2025, other players stepped up to the plate.

Matthijs de Ligt became one of the first names on the teamsheet until a back injury halted his momentum. Harry Maguire enjoyed a new lease of life under Michael Carrick and earned himself a new contract in the process.

Meanwhile, Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven both positioned themselves to be the future of the United defence. Heaven particularly stood out away at Chelsea, while Yoro, after a ropey start to the campaign, found his feet again and ended the season brightly.

It raises the question of where Martinez fits into United’s plans. He started and finished all three of United’s final matches of the season but it is difficult to make a point when the job has already been done.

Due to injuries and suspensions, Martinez played fewer than half of United’s Premier League matches last season. Such a return does not make a new contract offer a guarantee and, with his current deal expiring in 2027, next season was always going to be make or break.

But Martinez is showing this summer that he can still be the defender United need him to be. Maguire will be 34 when next season ends and nobody is sure whether De Ligt will be the same player he was pre-injury.

While Yoro and Heaven are United’s future, the Reds will need experience and, at 28, Martinez can offer that. If the fan favourite can stay injury-free next season and replicate his World Cup form in the Premier League, there is no reason the defender cannot earn himself a new deal.

There was some debate among fans over whether United needed to buy another centre-back this summer given the issues they had in defence last season. There was never a suggestion from United they were open to selling Martinez and he looks back to his best at the World Cup.

It seems the international tournament has provided Martinez’s United career with a boost when he needed it most.