Josef Martínez Explained

Josef Martínez
Full Name:Josef Alexander Martínez Mencia
Birth Date:1993 5, df=yes
Birth Place:Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela
Height:1.72 m[1]
Position:Striker
Currentclub:CF Montréal
Clubnumber:17
Youthyears1:–2010
Youthclubs1:Caracas
Years1:2010–2012
Clubs1:Caracas
Caps1:36
Goals1:8
Years2:2012–2014
Clubs2:Young Boys
Caps2:37
Goals2:4
Years3:2013–2014
Clubs3:Thun (loan)
Caps3:18
Goals3:8
Years4:2014–2017
Clubs4:Torino
Caps4:58
Goals4:7
Years5:2017
Clubs5:Atlanta United (loan)
Caps5:3
Goals5:5
Years6:2017–2022
Clubs6:Atlanta United
Caps6:131
Goals6:93
Years7:2023
Clubs7:Inter Miami
Caps7:27
Goals7:7
Years8:2024–
Clubs8:CF Montréal
Caps8:15
Goals8:5
Nationalyears1:2011–2013
Nationalteam1:Venezuela U20
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:2
Nationalyears2:2011–
Nationalteam2:Venezuela
Nationalcaps2:66
Nationalgoals2:14
Club-Update:20 July 2024
Nationalteam-Update:03:44, 18 October 2023 (UTC)

Josef Alexander Martínez Mencia (born 19 May 1993) is a Venezuelan professional footballer who plays as a striker for Major League Soccer club CF Montréal and the Venezuela national team.

Josef Martínez began his career with Caracas. In 2012, he was acquired by the Swiss Super League club Young Boys before spending a year on loan at Thun. In 2014, he was sold to Italian club Torino, and in 2017, Major League Soccer expansion side, Atlanta United. He later joined Inter Miami for the 2023 season. He holds the MLS record for career hat-tricks with six in his first 44 games, the record for cumulative goals in regular and post season with 35, the record for most consecutive games with a goal (15), and formerly held the record for goals in a single season (31 in 2018). Additionally, Martínez scored 100 goals in the MLS faster than any single player in league history (125 games).

In 2018, Martínez became the most decorated single-season player in MLS history by winning the League MVP, All-Star Game MVP, Golden Boot, and MLS Cup Final MVP.

He is a former Venezuela under-20 international. In 2011, he made his debut for the senior Venezuela national team against El Salvador, and has since represented his nation at three editions of the Copa América.

Club career

Caracas

Martínez made his debut for Caracas on 21 August 2010 against Estudiantes de Mérida, entering as a substitute in the 70th minute, won 1–0. He scored his first goal in a 2–2 draw against Deportivo Petare on 21 November 2010.[2]

Young Boys

On 3 January 2012, Caracas announced Martínez had been sold to Young Boys of the Swiss Super League for a period of four years along with fellow right-back Alexander Gonzalez. He debuted on 5 February 2012 against Servette, which the Young Boys won 3–1. After a string of good performances, Martínez was called up to the Venezuela national team, as well as awarded his first start for Young Boys on 21 October 2012, in which he scored his first goal for the Swiss club with a volley in the 50th minute against Grasshoppers.

Loan to Thun

After one season in the Swiss capital city, he was sent on loan to Thun. After scoring eight goals in 18 games with the team from Bernese Oberland, he was momentarily the top scorer in the Swiss Super League and recalled by Young Boys.[3]

Torino

On 7 June 2014, Martínez was sold to Italian Serie A club Torino for a reported fee of €3 million.[4] [5] He made his debut in a 0–3 away win against Sweden's Brommapojkarna in the third round of the 2014–15 Europa League.[6] He scored his first goal for the Granata in the return leg, won 4–0 in Turin (7–0 on agg.).[7]

He made his league debut on 14 September in a 2–0 loss away to Sampdoria.[8] On 7 December, he scored his first goal in Serie A during a 2–2 draw with Palermo.[9] Four days later, he scored his first brace in the Europa League against Copenhagen, which ended 5–1 in favour of Torino.[10]

On 30 April 2016, he scored his first brace in Serie A, as Torino won 5–1 away to Udinese.[11]

Atlanta United

On 2 February 2017, Martínez was loaned with a buying option to Major League Soccer expansion team Atlanta United.[12] [13] He made his league debut on 5 March in a 2–1 home defeat against New York Red Bulls.[14] He scored his first career hat-trick, and the first hat-trick in the history of the club, in a 6–1 win at Minnesota United the following week.[15]

On 21 March, Atlanta announced they had activated the buyout clause for an undisclosed transfer fee.[16] He was named the MLS Player of the Month for March after scoring five goals in his first three games in the league.[17]

On 23 March, while playing for the Venezuela national team against Peru, Martínez injured his left quadricep.[18] After more than two months of recuperation, he returned to action only to be injured again over the summer. Upon his return from the second injury, he scored hat tricks in two consecutive games against the New England Revolution and Orlando City, and was named the MLS Player of the Month for September 2017.[19] Atlanta United finished in a tie for third in the Eastern Conference, but were eliminated in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs by Columbus Crew. Despite only making 20 appearances (all competitions) due to injury, Martínez finished his first year in Atlanta fourth in the league in scoring, with 20 goals in all competitions, and was named to the MLS Best XI for the 2017 season.

2018 season

On 2 June 2018, Martínez converted a late penalty kick against Philadelphia Union to notch his fifth MLS hat-trick, tying the league record for hat-tricks and doing so faster than any other player in league history.[20] He broke the record for hat-tricks on 21 July 2018 against DC United, after only 44 games.

He was voted the MLS Player of the Month for July after scoring ten goals and adding one assist to lead the Five Stripes to a 3–1–1 record.[21]

He scored the only goal for the MLS All-Stars in the 2018 MLS All-Star Game against Juventus, a 1–1 draw, and was named MVP.[22] [23]

On 24 August 2018, he scored his 28th goal of the season, a game winner in Orlando City, to break the league single-season record of 27, held by Roy Lassiter, Chris Wondolowski, and Bradley Wright-Phillips. After failing to capitalize on numerous opportunities, Martínez utilized his quick footwork to cut back against the defender and then chip Joe Bendik to set the record in just his 26th match. He was named MLS Player of the Month for August 2018.[24]

2019 season

On 6 August 2019, Martínez was awarded the MLS Player of the Month for July.[25] He earned the award having scored in nine straight matches, tying his own MLS record set the previous season, which was also shared with Diego Valeri.

On 23 August, he set a new MLS record by scoring a goal in 12 consecutive games.[26] The goal helped his side to a 1–0 win over rivals Orlando City and was his 15th strike during the streak.[27] On 18 September, Martínez extended his goal-scoring record to 15 consecutive games, which is the third longest streak in world football after Lionel Messi (33 goals in 21 games) and Tor Henning Hamre (21 goals in 15 games).[28]

2020 season

On 29 February 2020, in Atlanta United’s first game of the 2020 season, Martínez suffered a torn ACL against MLS debutant Nashville. Martínez missed the entirety of the 2020 season.[29]

2021 season

Martínez made his first appearance since early last season on 6 April 2021 in the CONCACAF Champions League against Alajuelense, coming on as a 67th minute substitute in the 1–0 away victory.[30] On 9 May 2021, Martínez scored his first goal of the season in a 1–1 draw against Inter Miami.[31] In July 2021, after returning from Copa América, it was revealed by coach Gabriel Heinze that Martínez was training away from the team, with no specific reason given.[32] Heinze was removed as Atlanta United's coach on 18 July and Martínez played his first match since returning on 21 July against FC Cincinnati. He came on as a substitute in the 1–1 draw.[33]

On 30 July 2021, Martínez scored the opening goal for Atlanta United in the first minute of a 3–2 away defeat against Orlando City.[34] He then scored the first goal for Atlanta on 4 August in their 2–2 draw against CF Montréal. Martínez also earned a red card in the 82nd minute following an altercation with Montréal's Victor Wanyama.[35] He returned to the side on 15 August, scoring the only goal in a 1–0 home victory against Los Angeles FC.[36]

2022 season

Martínez scored his first goal of the 2022 season on 13 March 2022. After a second successful knee surgery, he started his first game since April, where he went on to score a goal and assisted another.

At the end of the season, after winning the award for the 2022 MLS Goal of the Year, Martínez did not renew his contract with Atlanta United, subsequently leaving the club after six seasons.

Inter Miami

2023 season

On 18 January 2023, it was announced that Martínez had been traded to Inter Miami.[37] Martínez made his 2023 Inter Miami season debut in a match against CF Montréal on 25 February 2023, ending in a 2–0 win.[38]

On 19 August, Inter Miami won the 2023 Leagues Cup, with Martínez scoring three goals in the competition. Later on, Inter Miami went to the 2023 U.S. Open Cup final, where they lost 1–2 against the Houston Dynamo, with Martínez scoring the only goal.

On 21 October, Inter Miami's head coach, Gerardo Martino, confirmed that Martinez would leave Inter Miami after only one season.[39] Four days later, the club confirmed the player's departure.[40]

CF Montréal

2024 season

On 6 February 2024, CF Montréal announced that they had signed Martínez as a free agent for the 2024 season with an option for a further year.[41] Martínez made his 2024 CF Montréal season debut coming in as a substitute in a match against Orlando City on 24 February 2024, which ultimately ended in a 0–0 draw.

International career

Martínez made his international debut on 7 August 2011 against El Salvador as a substitute in the 76th minute.[2]

On 10 November 2016 (matchday 11 of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification), Martínez scored a hat-trick against Bolivia in a 5–0 win in Maturín.

Style of play

While he started as a winger, a position in which he often played at Torino under Sinisa Mihajlovic, it was Gerardo Martino who changed his position, converting him into a center forward.Primarily a forward, Martínez is an aggressive and powerful player, who usually plays in a central role as a main striker, but who is also capable of playing as a winger. His pace, dribbling ability, eye for goal, and his accurate finishing ability with either foot, as well as his head, combined with his ability to make attacking runs off the ball from behind and get into good positions, make him a dangerous attacking threat in the penalty area.[42] [43] [44] [45] [46]

Career statistics

Club

[2] [42]

Club!rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Caracas2010–11Venezuelan Primera División21471285
2011–1215400154
Total36871439
Young Boys2011–12Swiss Super League11000110
2012–13811091
2013–1418300183
Total37410384
Thun2013–14Swiss Super League188311113210
Torino2014–15Serie A26311133407
2015–1621321234
2016–1711111122
Total587431337513
Atlanta United2017MLS201911102220
20183431543935
201929272154313933
2020102232
2021241240102912
202226900269
Total1349832116105158111
Inter Miami2023MLS27762734012
CF Montréal2024MLS1550021176
Career total3251371784211199403165

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Venezuela201130
201230
201362
201430
201572
2016155
201750
201830
201962
202140
202252
202361
Total6614

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

List of international goals scored by Josef Martínez
No.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition
122 May 2013Estadio José Pachencho Romero, Maracaibo, Venezuela72–12–1Friendly
214 August 2013Estadio José Pachencho Romero, Maracaibo, Venezuela91–02–2Friendly
331 March 2015Lockhart Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, United States171–01–0Friendly
417 November 2015Estadio Cachamay, Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela221–31–32018 FIFA World Cup qualification
55 June 2016Soldier Field, Chicago, United States281–01–0Copa América Centenario
66 September 2016Estadio Metropolitano de Mérida, Mérida, Venezuela332–02–22018 FIFA World Cup qualification
710 November 2016Estadio Monumental de Maturín, Maturín, Venezuela362–05–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification
83–0
94–0
1022 March 2019Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain463–13–1Friendly
1122 June 2019Estádio Mineirão, Belo Horizonte, Brazil503–13–12019 Copa América
121 February 2022Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay571–41–42022 FIFA World Cup qualification
1327 September 2022Stadion Wiener Neustadt, Wiener Neustadt, Austria604–04–0Friendly
1425 March 2023Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 611–02–1Friendly

Honours

Atlanta United

2018

Inter Miami

Individual

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Josef Martínez . 21 August 2022 . Atlanta United FC.
  2. Web site: J. Martínez. Soccerway . 24 May 2012.
  3. Web site: Armero . Andrés . El venezolano Josef Martínez regresa al BSC Young Boys . . 27 August 2018 . es . 16 December 2013.
  4. Web site: Martinez al Toro . . 28 August 2018 . it . 7 June 2014.
  5. Web site: UFFICIALE: Torino, acquistato Josef Martinez. Contratto quadriennale - TUTTOmercatoWEB.com. www.tuttomercatoweb.com.
  6. Web site: BROMMAPOJKARNA VS. TORINO 0 - 3. soccerway.com. 2 August 2014.
  7. Web site: TORINO VS. BROMMAPOJKARNA 4 - 0. soccerway.com. 8 August 2014.
  8. Web site: Sampdoria vs. Torino - 14 September 2014 - Soccerway. au.soccerway.com.
  9. Web site: Torino vs. Palermo - 6 December 2014 - Soccerway. au.soccerway.com.
  10. Web site: København vs. Torino - 11 December 2014 - Soccerway. au.soccerway.com.
  11. Web site: Udinese vs. Torino - 30 April 2016 - Soccerway. au.soccerway.com.
  12. Web site: Martinez all'Atlanta . . 27 August 2018 . it . 2 February 2017.
  13. Web site: Atlanta United Acquire Josef Martinez as Designated Player . . 27 August 2018 . 2 February 2017.
  14. Web site: Atlanta United vs. New York RB - 6 March 2017 - Soccerway. au.soccerway.com.
  15. Web site: Minnesota United vs. Atlanta United - 12 March 2017 - Soccerway. au.soccerway.com.
  16. Web site: Atlanta United finalize permanent transfer of Josef Martínez. 21 March 2017. Atlanta United. 21 March 2017.
  17. Web site: Stejskal . Sam . Atlanta United FC's Josef Martinez named MLS Player of the Month for March . . 5 June 2018 . 5 April 2017 . 8 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190808123847/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/04/05/atlanta-united-fcs-josef-martinez-named-mls-player-month-march-0 . dead .
  18. Web site: McCartney. Cory. With Josef Martínez out 4-6 weeks, how will Atlanta United replace him?. Fox Sports South. 28 March 2017. 22 January 2018.
  19. Web site: Stejskal . Sam . Josef Martinez runs away with September honor | Alcatel Player of the Month . . 5 June 2018 . 5 October 2017 . 5 November 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191105194555/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/10/05/josef-martinez-runs-away-september-honor-alcatel-player-month?autoplay=true . dead .
  20. Web site: Roberson. Doug. Martinez ties MLS mark in leading Atlanta United to win. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 2 June 2018. 2 June 2018.
  21. Web site: Boehm . Charles . ATL's Josef Martinez wins July MLS Player of the Month pres. by EA Sports . . 3 August 2018 . 3 August 2018.
  22. Web site: 2018 MLS All-Star Roster . . 31 July 2018 . 26 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190626044537/https://www.mlssoccer.com/all-star/2018/rosters/mls-all-star-team . dead .
  23. Web site: Couch . Ben . Josef Martinez named 2018 MLS All-Star Game MVP . . 2 August 2018 . 1 August 2018.
  24. Web site: Boehm . Charles . Atlanta United's Josef Martinez named August MLS Player of the Month . . 6 September 2018 . 5 September 2018.
  25. Web site: Josef Martinez named MLS Player of the Month pres. by EA SPORTS for July. MLS. 6 August 2019. 13 August 2019.
  26. Web site: Josef Martinez scores in 12th consecutive game to break MLS record. Sporting News. 23 August 2019. 13 August 2019.
  27. Web site: Josef Martinez sets new MLS record with goals in 12 consecutive matches. MLS. 23 August 2019. 23 August 2019.
  28. Web site: Josef Martinez approaching world record for league scoring streak. MLS. 14 September 2019. 15 September 2019.
  29. News: Atlanta United's Josef Martinez has torn ACL. Doug Roberson. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. en. 2 March 2020.
  30. Web site: Alajuelense 0–1 Atlanta United . Soccerway.
  31. Web site: Inter Miami 1–1 Atlanta United . Soccerway.
  32. News: Roberson . Doug . Atlanta United's Martinez training apart from the team . 22 August 2021 . The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . 15 July 2021.
  33. Web site: FC Cincinnati 1–1 Atlanta United . Soccerway.
  34. Web site: Orlando City 3–2 Atlanta United . Soccerway.
  35. Web site: CF Montréal 2–2 Atlanta United . Soccerway.
  36. Web site: Atlanta United 1–0 Los Angeles FC . Soccerway.
  37. Web site: Inter Miami CF Signs Renowned Venezuelan Striker Josef Martínez | Inter Miami CF. intermiamicf.
  38. Web site: 2023-02-25 . Inter Miami CF 2-0 CF Montréal . 2024-02-25 . CF Montréal .
  39. Web site: Vertelney . Seth . 2023-10-21 . Josef Martinez will leave Inter Miami after one season . 2023-10-23 . Pro Soccer Wire . en-US.
  40. Web site: Inter Miami CF Announces 2023 Roster Decisions | Inter Miami CF .
  41. Web site: CF Montréal sign iconic striker Josef Martínez . MLSSoccer.com . 2024-02-06 . en.
  42. Web site: Josef Martinez . . 5 October 2018 .
  43. Web site: Martinez Refuses To Play For Venezuela . World Soccer . Vickery . Tim . 30 September 2019 . 13 October 2019 .
  44. Web site: Atlanta's Josef Martinez wins MVP award in MLS . Sportsnet . 5 December 2018 . 13 October 2019 .
  45. Web site: Josef Martinez "different" from other elite strikers across MLS history, says Arena . www.mlssoccer.com . York . Jason . 11 October 2019 . 13 October 2019 .
  46. Web site: Josef Martinez in a Class of His Own After Breaking MLS Scoring Record . Sports Illustrated . Straus . Brian . 25 August 2018 . 13 October 2019 .
  47. Web site: Atlanta United wins U.S. Open Cup. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 27 August 2019. 28 August 2019.
  48. Web site: Atlanta beats Club America to lift Campeones Cup. ESPNFC. 14 August 2019.
  49. Web site: Sigal . Jonathan . 20 August 2023 . Lionel Messi & Inter Miami are Leagues Cup champions! . 21 August 2023 . MLS Soccer .
  50. Web site: 2014-01-27 . Super League - Salah zum SL-«Spieler des Jahres» gewählt . 2023-09-16 . Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) . de.
  51. Web site: 2017 MLS Best XI revealed: Who was the best in 2017?. Major League Soccer. 30 November 2017. 30 November 2017.
  52. Web site: 2018 MLS Best XI. Major League Soccer. 11 November 2018. 11 November 2018.
  53. Web site: 2019 MLS Best XI . . 28 October 2019 . 28 October 2019.
  54. Web site: Bogert . Tom . Atlanta United's Josef Martinez wins 2018 Landon Donovan MLS MVP award . . 5 December 2018 . 5 December 2018.
  55. Web site: Bogert . Tom . Atlanta United striker Josef Martinez wins 2018 MLS Golden Boot . . 29 October 2018 . 28 October 2018.
  56. Web site: 2019 MLS All-Star Roster . . 14 July 2019 . 15 July 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190715014938/https://www.mlssoccer.com/all-star/2019/rosters/mls-all-star-team . dead .
  57. Web site: Boehm . Charles . Josef Martinez named MLS Player of the Month pres. by EA SPORTS for July . . 6 August 2019 . 6 August 2019.
  58. Web site: Josef Martinez named MLS Player of the Month pres. by EA SPORTS for August . . 10 September 2019 . 10 September 2019.
  59. Web site: Atlanta United's Josef Martinez wins 2019 AT&T Goal of the Year . . 23 October 2019 . 23 October 2019 . 25 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191025015334/https://www.mlssoccer.com/goal-of-the-year/2019 . dead .
  60. Web site: Atlanta United's Josef Martinez wins 2022 AT&T 5G MLS Goal of the Year fan vote. Major League Soccer. October 20, 2022. October 20, 2022.