Manchester United’s Argentine contingent has always carried a certain weight given the club’s connection to the national team’s recent golden era.
That connection was reinforced again this summer, with United represented at the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States as Argentina reached the final before losing to Spain.
One defender in particular returned from that tournament having fought back impressively from the ACL injury that wrecked his previous club campaign.
He started all seven of Argentina’s matches, recording two clean sheets, seven interceptions, 13 tackles and 36 clearances, along with a goal and an assist against Cape Verde, before his own World Cup ended prematurely with a thigh injury in the final defeat to Spain.
Manchester United star officially included in squad for Messi farewell game
Lisandro Martinez has now been called up to the Argentina squad for Lionel Messi’s international farewell against Benin on 6 October at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, as they announced on their website.
Argentina federation president Claudio Tapia confirmed the fixture will be dedicated entirely to Messi, giving the forward a proper send-off after he announced his retirement from international football.
Messi confirmed the decision in an Instagram post on 31 August, departing as Argentina’s all-time leading scorer and most capped player with 125 goals in 207 appearances.
Argentina face Bolivia on 30 September and Burkina Faso on 3 October before hosting Benin, with Lisandro Martinez set to link up with the squad for all three fixtures.
Martinez responded directly in the comments of Messi’s retirement post, describing him as an example to himself and to everyone around him, praising both his achievements on the pitch and his character away from it.
The United defender wrote that he was deeply saddened by the decision but thanked Messi for everything, calling him a winner in football and in life.
Martinez’s own international story is intertwined with Messi’s era of success, having won the World Cup, two Copa Americas and the Finalissima alongside him as part of the same Argentina generation.
He was recalled to United’s starting line-up for the 5-2 win over Ipswich after being an unused substitute at Hull, making nine line-breaking passes in the first half alone and drawing praise from Rio Ferdinand for his composure on the ball.
Martinez is expected to feature again this weekend before linking up with Argentina.
His involvement in the Benin farewell means a busy few weeks await, balancing United’s own demanding fixture list with a send-off match that promises to be one of the most emotional occasions in Argentine football history.