Lisandro Martinez suffers thigh injury in World Cup final

Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez suffered a thigh injury during Argentina's World Cup final defeat to Spain on July 19, 2026, casting doubt on his immediate availability for the upcoming club season. The 28-year-old was forced off the pitch in the 44th minute at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey after appearing to injure his right quadriceps muscle.

Martinez had started the match for the defending champions but was substituted shortly after receiving a yellow card for a foul on Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal. He was seen holding his thigh and sitting on the turf in discomfort before signaling to the bench that he could not continue. Veteran defender Nicolas Otamendi replaced him. Visibly emotional, Martinez pulled his shirt over his face as he walked to the dugout. Argentina went on to lose the match in extra time after also seeing Cristian Romero injured and Enzo Fernandez sent off.

The injury represents another significant setback for Martinez, who has been plagued by fitness issues since joining Manchester United from Ajax in 2022. His recent history includes a metatarsal fracture, subsequent surgery, knee and calf problems, and a major anterior cruciate ligament injury that...