Christopher Martins Explained

Christopher Martins
Fullname:Christopher Martins Pereira[1]
Birth Date:19 February 1997
Birth Place:Luxembourg City, Luxembourg[2]
Height:1.87 m
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Spartak Moscow
Clubnumber:35
Youthclubs1:Racing FC
Years1:2012–2013
Clubs1:Racing FC
Caps1:8
Goals1:0
Years2:2013–2019
Clubs2:Lyon B
Caps2:45
Goals2:2
Years3:2017–2019
Clubs3:Lyon
Caps3:2
Goals3:0
Years4:2017–2018
Clubs4:Bourg-Péronnas (loan)
Caps4:17
Goals4:1
Years5:2018–2019
Clubs5:Troyes (loan)
Caps5:30
Goals5:2
Years6:2019–2022
Clubs6:Young Boys
Caps6:48
Goals6:4
Years7:2022
Clubs7:Spartak Moscow (loan)
Caps7:10
Goals7:1
Years8:2022–
Clubs8:Spartak Moscow
Caps8:46
Goals8:6
Nationalyears1:2012
Nationalteam1:Luxembourg U17
Nationalcaps1:6
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2012
Nationalteam2:Luxembourg U19
Nationalcaps2:3
Nationalgoals2:1
Nationalyears3:2014
Nationalteam3:Luxembourg U21
Nationalcaps3:2
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2014–
Nationalteam4:Luxembourg
Nationalcaps4:68
Nationalgoals4:1
Club-Update:18 August 2024
Nationalteam-Update:9 June 2024

Christopher Martins Pereira (born 19 February 1997) is a Luxembourgish professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder or central midfielder for Russian Premier League club Spartak Moscow and the Luxembourg national team.

Club career

Martins is a youth exponent from Racing FC in Luxembourg City. He transferred to the Lyon Academy in 2013.

Martins made his Lyon debut on 10 September 2017 in a Ligue 1 match against Guingamp. He started the match and was replaced by Jordan Ferri after 51 minutes in a 2–1 home win.[3] In June 2019 he signed for Swiss club Young Boys.[4] He won both the 2019-20 and 2020-21 Swiss Super Leagues with the club.

On 31 January 2022, he joined Russian giants Spartak Moscow on a short-term loan.[5] In their announcement of the transfer, Young Boys said that Spartak was expected to buy him out at the conclusion of the loan.[6] Martins won the Russian Cup on 29 May 2022, with him starting in the 2-1 final victory against Dynamo Moscow in what is known as the Oldest Russian derby. On 3 June 2022, Spartak confirmed Martins' permanent transfer, and his signing until 2026.[7]

International career

Martins represented Luxembourg at youth international levels, playing for them in the under-17, under-19, and under-21 age groups. Martins was eligible to represent France.[8]

He was eligible to represent both Luxembourg and Cape Verde at international level; he rejected a call-up from Luxembourg's senior team in March 2013 as he had not decided which nation he wished to represent.[8] [9] After being called up again by Luxembourg, he made his debut on 8 September 2014, at the age of 17.[10]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Racing-Union2012–13Luxembourg National Division8080
Lyon B2013–14CFA 21010
2014–15CFA 2142142
2015–16CFA 2100100
2016–17CFA 2180180
2017–18CFA 21010
2018–19CFA 21010
Total452452
Lyon2017–18Ligue 1200020
FBBP01 (loan)2017–18Ligue 21713120222
Troyes (loan)2018–19Ligue 230210312
Young Boys2019–20Swiss Super League2223130283
2020–21Swiss Super League1120030142
2021–22Swiss Super League15010100260
Total48441160685
Young Boys U212019–201. Liga1010
Spartak Moscow (loan)2021–22Russian Premier League10140141
Spartak Moscow2022–23Russian Premier League18251233
2023–24Russian Premier League264111375
2024–25Russian Premier League102131
Total4561830000639
Career total206163051602025421

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Luxembourg201440
201560
201670
201780
201881
201950
202020
202190
202260
202390
202440
Total681

Scores and results list Luxembourg's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Martins goal.

Honours

Young Boys

Spartak Moscow

2021–22[13]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: UEFA Nations League 2021: Booking List before League phase Matchday 6 . 9 . UEFA . 16 November 2020 . 23 November 2020 . 7 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220307054759/https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/0263-10de614232cd-de3927e3d25c-1000/unl_booking_list_before_md6.pdf . dead .
  2. News: Christopher Martins Pereira. OL Web. fr. 4 September 2017.
  3. Web site: Lyon vs. Guingamp - 10 September 2017 - Soccerway. soccerway.com. 11 September 2017.
  4. Web site: L'OL vend Christopher Martins Pereira aux Young Boys de Berne. 13 June 2019.
  5. Web site: FC Spartak Moscow. Кристофер Мартинс — новый игрок "Спартака"!. 31 January 2022. ru.
  6. Web site: Young Boys. Martins wechselt zu Spartak Moskau. 31 January 2022. 24 May 2022. de.
  7. Web site: FC Spartak Moscow. "Спартак" выкупил трансфер Мартинса у "Янг Бойз". 3 June 2022. ru.
  8. Web site: Christopher Martins-Pereira convoqué avec le Luxembourg. 27 August 2014. 24 September 2014. French. Le Libéro Lyon.
  9. Web site: L'énigme Christopher Martins-Pereira. 6 September 2014. 24 September 2014. French. Le Libéro Lyon.
  10. Web site: De l'audace, de l'audace encore de l'audace. 8 September 2014. 24 September 2014. French. Didier Hiégel. Luxemburger Wort.
  11. News: Associated Press. Young Boys wins Swiss league title in 54th week of season. en-US. Washington Post. 18 October 2020. 0190-8286.
  12. Web site: Schweizerischer Fussballverband - Statistik und Resultate. 18 October 2020. www.football.ch. de.
  13. Web site: Russian Premier League. "Спартак" обыграл "Динамо" и стал 4-кратным победителем Кубка России. 29 May 2022. ru.