History of Lisandro Martínez in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 15, 2026

Lisandro Martínez is an Argentine professional footballer renowned for his tenacity, technical ability, and versatility as a central defender. Starting his professional career at Newell's Old Boys, he rose to prominence in Europe during a successful tenure at AFC Ajax, where he developed into a commanding, ball-playing defender. In 2022, he completed a high-profile transfer to Manchester United, becoming a pivotal figure in their defensive lineup due to his aggressive tackling and composure under pressure. Internationally, Martínez is a key component of the Argentina national team; he played an instrumental role in their triumphant 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign. Often nicknamed 'The Butcher' for his combative style, he is widely regarded for his elite positioning and defensive intelligence, despite being smaller in stature than the traditional center-back, proving that tactical awareness and physicality can overcome size disadvantages at the highest level of professional football.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

13 April 2026: Red card incident against Leeds United

On 13 April 2026, Lisandro Martínez was issued a straight red card for pulling the hair of Dominic Calvert-Lewin during a 2–1 home defeat to Leeds United, resulting in a subsequent three-game suspension.

14 January 2024: Return to the Pitch Following Foot Injury

On 14 January 2024, Lisandro Martínez made his return to professional football as a substitute for Manchester United during a 2–2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur, following a four-month period on the sidelines due to a foot injury.

16 July 2022: Manchester United Agrees to Transfer Fee

On 16 July 2022, Manchester United reached an agreement with Ajax to sign Lisandro Martínez for a fee ranging from £47 million to £49 million, with an additional £8.5 million in performance-related add-ons.

17 May 2019: Transfer Agreement to Ajax

On 17 May 2019, the Argentine club Defensa y Justicia officially announced that a deal had been reached to transfer Lisandro Martínez to the Eredivisie club Ajax for a fee of €7 million, contingent upon the player passing a medical examination.

January 1998: Birth of Lisandro Martínez

In January 1998, Lisandro Martínez, the future Argentine professional footballer famously known for his aggressive defensive style, was born.

Others born on this day/year

20 May 2019: Completion of Medical and Contract Signing

On 20 May 2019, Ajax confirmed that Lisandro Martínez successfully passed his medical examination. He subsequently signed a four-year contract with the club, which included an option for an additional year, with the official transfer effective as of 1 July.

2016: Professional Debut for Newell's Old Boys

During the 2016–17 season, specifically in the final fixture of 2016, Lisandro Martínez made his professional debut for Newell's Old Boys by playing the full ninety minutes in a match against Godoy Cruz.

August 2017: Loan move to Defensa y Justicia

In August 2017, Lisandro Martínez joined the Argentine Primera División team Defensa y Justicia on a loan agreement to further his professional development.

2017: 2017 South American Youth Football Championship

During 2017, Lisandro Martínez represented Argentina at the South American Youth Football Championship held in Ecuador, making four appearances, including a match against Venezuela. This tournament helped Argentina qualify for the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup, though Martínez did not play in the World Cup tournament itself.

2017: Transfer to Defensa y Justicia

In 2017, Lisandro Martínez moved from Newell's Old Boys to join the club Defensa y Justicia, a transition that began as a loan spell.

June 2018: Partial acquisition of rights by Defensa y Justicia

In June 2018, the football club Defensa y Justicia officially purchased 50% of the registration rights for Lisandro Martínez, cementing his status at the club.

2018: Jesse Lingard's goal against Liverpool

In 2018, Jesse Lingard became the last Manchester United player to score at Anfield prior to Lisandro Martínez's achievement in 2025, ending a goal-scoring drought for the club at that venue.

March 2019: Senior International Debut

In March 2019, Lisandro Martínez made his first appearance for the senior Argentina national football team, marking a significant milestone in his professional international career.

September 2019: Argentina Under-23 Debut

In September 2019, Lisandro Martínez made his debut for the Argentina under-23 national team, contributing to a 5–0 friendly victory against Bolivia.

2019: Signing with Ajax

In 2019, Lisandro Martínez officially signed a contract to play for the Dutch club Ajax, marking a significant advancement in his professional career.

2020: 2020-21 Season Campaign

During the 2020 season, Lisandro Martínez continued his tenure with Ajax, playing through the start of the 2020-21 campaign and contributing goals for the club, notably in September 2020.

2021: Copa América victory

During 2021, Lisandro Martínez participated in the Copa América, where he made one appearance as Argentina went on to win the tournament championship.

2021: Record-setting passing performance in the 2021–22 Eredivisie season

During the 2021–22 Eredivisie season, Lisandro Martínez distinguished himself as a highly skilled ball-playing defender by averaging more passes per 90 minutes than any other player in the league.

2021: Ajax Player of the Year Recognition

During the 2021–22 season, which included the 2021 calendar year, Martínez's performance was honored when he was named the Ajax Player of the Year.

2022: 2022 Finalissima and FIFA World Cup Wins

In 2022, Lisandro Martínez achieved major success with the Argentina national team by winning both the 2022 Finalissima and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

2022: World Cup title and international success

Throughout 2022, Martínez achieved significant international success, including being an unused substitute in the Finalissima victory against Italy and contributing to Argentina's historic third FIFA World Cup title, where he played key roles against Australia, the Netherlands, and Croatia.

June 2024: Selection for the 2024 Copa América

In June 2024, Lisandro Martínez was named to the 26-man squad representing Argentina in the 2024 Copa América. During the tournament, he achieved a significant milestone by scoring his first international goal during a quarter-final match against Ecuador in June 2024, which concluded in a penalty shootout victory for his team.

2024: 2024 Copa América Victory

In 2024, Lisandro Martínez added another international trophy to his collection as part of the Argentina squad that emerged victorious in the 2024 Copa América.

January 2025: Lisandro Martínez's goal-scoring form and subsequent injury

Throughout January 2025, Lisandro Martínez achieved several career milestones, including scoring the opening goal in a 2-2 draw against Liverpool on January 5 and securing a 1-0 victory against Fulham on January 26; however, his season was prematurely ended on February 2, 2025, after sustaining an ACL injury against Crystal Palace.

2026: Selection and Performance in 2026 FIFA World Cup

In 2026, Lisandro Martínez was named to Argentina's 26-man roster for the FIFA World Cup. During the Round of 32 match against Cape Verde in 2026, he achieved a personal milestone by scoring his first-ever World Cup goal and providing an assist during a 3–2 victory that required extra time.

22 January 2023: First Goal for Manchester United

On 22 January 2023, Lisandro Martínez achieved a personal milestone by scoring his first goal for Manchester United during a match against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, which ended in a 3–2 defeat.