Lisandro Martinez played every minute of Argentina's thrilling 3-2 victory over Cape Verde in the World Cup 2026 knockout stages, earning widespread praise from Argentine media. The reigning world champions will now face Egypt in the last 16 after being forced to play the full 120 minutes against the minnows.
Martinez's Impact on Both Ends
While Lionel Messi scored his seventh goal of the tournament, it was the Manchester United defender who came in for particular acclaim after scoring himself and assisting the Inter Miami superstar. Martinez endured a difficult club campaign hampered by injury, a period he described as "tough." After the match, he said: "I don't want to think about those things, I try to keep it to myself. It was very tough. Thanks to my club and the national team. I'm truly very happy."
Media Acclaim for United Star
Argentine outlet Clarin named Martinez as one of Argentina's best players, giving him a nine out of 10 rating. Diego Provenzano wrote: "He once again proved he's exceptional, both in his clean distribution and, especially, in his ability to play the ball between the lines, as seen in that long pass to Messi for the goal. In the second half, he was late to cover the goal. He then provided another assist and remained one of the best players until the end of extra time." The defender played all 120 minutes, demonstrating his influence in Lionel Scaloni's side.
La Nacion praised the attacking instincts of the 28-year-old, who found himself in striker territory to give Argentina the lead in extra time. Martinez pounced on Alexis Mac Allister's header and finished like a professional striker. They wrote: "Messi sent in a cross from the left, Mac Allister flicked the ball on at the near post, and it fell to Lisandro Martinez on the far side. The Manchester United defender positioned himself like a striker and fired a left-footed shot past the seemingly impenetrable Vozinha to make it 2-1, a huge relief."
Pagina 12 continued the theme, writing: "Lisandro Martinez was a standout performer for the national team, providing a magnificent assist for Messi's opening goal and scoring one himself later on." Martinez assessed: "That's how knockout matches go; you can't get complacent. Both teams gave it their all. This team never gives up. We're ready for anything, and it's good when things like this happen—sometimes you have to suffer."
