Manchester United defender Lisandro Martínez has opened up about the darkest period of his career after finally making his return to the Argentina national team, ending a 598-day wait caused by a succession of injury setbacks.
The centre-back featured for 63 minutes in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Honduras in a World Cup warm-up match at the weekend. It was his first appearance for the national side since October 2024 and another significant step in a recovery process that tested him physically and mentally.
Argentine newspaper Clarín has looked back at Martínez’s journey, with the Manchester United player admitting there were moments when he questioned whether he would ever play football again.
Injury nightmare and road back
Martínez’s last Argentina appearance before this weekend came in a 6-0 victory over Bolivia in October 2024. He was then forced out of subsequent squads after suffering a serious knee injury.
In February 2025, the defender ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while playing for Manchester United. It was another major blow after previous injury problems had already disrupted his progress.
The timing was emotional. A month after the injury, Martínez welcomed his first daughter, Aurora. Eight months later he returned to action, only for another muscular problem to slow his momentum again.
Speaking previously to AFA Estudio, Argentina’s official streaming platform, Martínez revealed just how difficult the rehabilitation period became.
“You have to reinvent yourself because you start from zero in every sense – physically, mentally and personally,” he explained.
“You feel like you’re not a football player. You feel pain and think you’re never going to play football again.”
The defender admitted there was a stage when he no longer wanted to continue.
“After the first two or three weeks, honestly, I didn’t want to play football anymore. What happened with my foot, then the knee injury, and I thought: ‘That’s it, I don’t want to know anything else.'”
World Cup motivation
Despite those struggles, Martínez relied heavily on family and friends to get through the recovery process. That support ultimately helped him return in time to compete for a place in Argentina’s World Cup squad.
After the win over Honduras, he posted a simple message on social media: “It was all worth it.”
Lisandro Martínez also spoke to TyC Sports after the match and insisted Argentina’s mentality remains unchanged heading into the tournament.
“We understand every match is a final,” he said. “You could see it in the result and in the desire of every player who came on. This team is willing to give everything.”
The Manchester United defender also sent his support to teammate Leonardo Balerdi, who will miss the World Cup through injury.
For Martínez, however, the story is very different. After nearly 600 days away from Argentina duty, he is back on the pitch, back in the squad and back preparing for the biggest tournament in football.
That alone represents a major victory after everything he has endured.
