Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez was the hero as Argentina progressed to the last 16 of the World Cup with a 3-2 win over Cape Verde.
Heroics
Martinez scored the Argentinian second goal with a stunning curling effort.
He also provided the assist with a long, raking ball over the top for Lionel Messi to finish.
The hard-nosed defender gave an interview after the match to TyC Sports.
Vital win
Commenting on how his nation got the job done against a valiant Cape Verde side, he claimed, “the team’s resilience, never giving up, never letting our guard down. We fought until the very end; these knockout matches are like that, you can’t get complacent . They played an excellent game, we have to congratulate them, that’s what I did. They gave it their all, and I think we were deserved winners, and I’m very happy, very proud of this team.”
Inspiration
Martinez suffered a terrible injury in January 2025, which saw him stay out of action until late November of the same year, and he opened up on the challenges this presented him.
He has previously explained that he even contemplated retiring after the setback, but he revealed just how he found the mental strength to fight back.
The defender explained, “this injury was the worst of all. Then my daughter was born, and everything balanced out. I saw my wife give birth, the effort she made, and I thought: How can I not keep fighting?”
Messi inspiration
Martinez also highlighted the role that Messi still plays for the team, not only in his goals but as a leader.
He asserted, “Leo’s story is a great example for me. He’s suffered a lot in his career and never gave up. Today, at 39, he’s still fighting and battling. He’s already won everything; he doesn’t have to prove anything at all. He’s the best player in history, not just in football but in all sports. It’s incredible. And those of us who come after him, how can we not keep fighting? If the greatest of all time does it with this passion, we have to keep going in the same way.”
Martinez’s Argentina will next be in action when they take on Egypt in the last 16 on Tuesday.
The Red Devil will he hoping to win his second World Cup title on the bounce after his nation’s 2022 triumph.
Lisandro Martinez Stats vs Cabo Verde
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Shots on Target | 1 |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 0.05 |
| Shots off Target | 0 |
| Shots Blocked | 0 |
| Dribbles (Successful) | 1 (1) |
| Clearances | 8 |
| Blocked Shots (Def.) | 6 |
| Interceptions | 1 |
| Tackles (Won) | 1 |
| Dribbled Past | 0 |
| Touches | 131 |
| Accurate Passes | 117/120 |
| Pass % | 98% |
| Key Passes | 1 |
| Crosses (Acc.) | - |
| Long Balls (Acc.) | 6 (5) |
| Duels (Won) | 5 (3) |
| Ground Duels (Won) | 2 (1) |
| Aerial Duels (Won) | 3 (2) |
| Possession Lost | 4 |
| Fouls | - |
| Was Fouled | - |
| Offsides | - |
| Notes | Big chances created: 1 |
Featured image by Michael Steele/Getty
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