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Posted on July 21, 2026 7:00 pm | Updated on July 21, 2026 1:09 pm Man United anxiously await verdict on Lisandro Martinez injury scare.
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Argentina’s World Cup final brought fresh worry for Manchester United fans on Sunday night, as Lisandro Martinez was forced off with a thigh problem before halftime against Spain. It’s the latest setback in a run of Man United injury news just as the new season approaches.
Lisandro Martinez forced off before halftime in New Jersey
As reported by ESPN, Martinez went down with no contact from any Spain player late in the first half, in East Rutherford. The injury followed a passage of play in which Martinez was booked for a tactical foul on Spain forward Mikel Oyarzabal, who was breaking forward on the counter-attack. He pointed to his thigh and pulled his shirt over his face as he walked off the pitch. Nicolas Otamendi came on to replace him in the 44th minute.
As reported by The Sun, the injury appeared soon after Martinez picked up a yellow card for a foul. His defensive partner Cristian Romero also went off later with a separate issue, leaving Argentina’s back line further stretched. Martinez had led the team in clearances with 34 during the tournament and ranked second in defensive actions. The match was still goalless when he limped off. Spain’s high press had already caused problems for Argentina in midfield. Spain went on to win 1-0 in extra time. Argentina were reduced to ten men after Enzo Fernandez’s second-half red card.
Martinez’s stats this season, as per FOTMOB:
Competitions Appearances Tackles Interceptions Successful passes Duels won %
Premier League 18 19 12 844 65.3%
FA Cup 1 3 0 57 62.5%
What this means for Manchester United
Martinez has become a key man at the back since he joined from Ajax, and his reading of the game makes him hard to replace at short notice. His fitness record is already a serious concern for United. As reported by FOTMOB, since arriving from Ajax in 2022, he has made 91 appearances for the club but has also missed roughly 609 days through various injuries over that span, including a torn cruciate ligament suffered in a Premier League match against Crystal Palace. It’s the kind of physical toll that comes with playing top-level football at the intensity Martinez brings.
Michael Carrick will be watching closely, given the Premier League season restarts in just 33 days, leaving little time for a proper recovery window before competitive action resumes. A long spell on the sidelines would leave a real gap in defence. He has already missed long stretches through injury in past seasons, and Man United have limited cover in central defence right now. Losing him again would force changes to pre-season plans, with the coaching staff needing to manage his fitness carefully ahead of the new campaign.
Recovery timeline still unclear
The next step for Lisandro Martinez is a full medical check to learn how serious the injury really is. He stayed with the Argentina squad to collect his runner-up medal after full time, and later left the stadium without crutches or a boot on his leg, a small but genuine reason for optimism. Scans will confirm the full extent of the damage, and the diagnosis will decide everything: a simple strain could mean weeks out, while anything more serious could mean months. Martinez has had his share of foot and leg injuries during his time in England, so United’s medical team will want a clear answer as soon as he returns from international duty.
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Deepanjali Bhardwaj
Deepanjali Bhardwaj is the Sports Editor at Six Sports, where she leads editorial coverage across cricket, football, and other major sporting events. She oversees newsroom operations, editorial planning, story development, and publishing standards while ensuring every article meets Six Sports' commitment to accuracy, transparency, and responsible journalism. She works closely with writers, editors, and contributors to deliver timely news, match reports, analysis, features, and explainers covering domestic and international competitions. Her editorial approach focuses on factual reporting, clear analysis, and reader-first journalism, helping audiences stay informed about the latest developments across the sporting world. As Sports Editor, Deepanjali plays a key role in maintaining the publication's editorial quality, consistency, and independence while guiding coverage of major leagues, tournaments, teams, and athletes.
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