Manchester United’s players are now beginning to filter back to Carrington after another busy summer on the international stage, with attention quickly turning towards preparations for the new campaign.
Michael Carrick will be hoping his squad returns in good condition as United continue reshaping the team ahead of the 2026/27 season.
While new signings have already arrived, the fitness of key players remains just as important as the club looks to compete across multiple competitions.
One player who has been at the centre of attention throughout the World Cup is Lisandro Martinez, although the tournament ended in heartbreaking fashion for both him and Argentina.
Now, the Argentine media have delivered their verdict on his displays.
Argentina’s hopes of defending their World Cup crown came to an end after a 1-0 extra-time defeat to Spain in the final, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal after Lionel Messi and his teammates were completely shut down.
Remarkably, Argentina failed to register a single shot on target throughout the final as Spain claimed their first World Cup title since 2010 following a tournament that featured 104 matches across 16 cities in three different countries.
Martinez’s evening ended before half-time after suffering a leg injury in the 44th minute.
The Manchester United defender had earlier been booked for bringing down Mikel Oyarzabal before eventually being forced off, with Nicolas Otamendi replacing him just before the interval.
The extent of the injury is still unknown, although United will be hoping he is available for the start of the new season, provided he is still at Old Trafford following recent reports linking him with Atletico Madrid.
Argentina media react to Lisandro Martinez display
Argentina’s media largely praised Lisandro Martinez despite the disappointing result.
TyC Sports awarded him a 6/10, writing, “What happened to him was truly a shame; he was having a great game until the injury. A poor pass from De Paul forced him into a perhaps unexpected effort, which also earned him a yellow card.
“Lisandro was not only controlling Spain’s attacks down the right flank but was also Argentina’s best passer, breaking lines with his vertical touches. He couldn’t continue and came off shortly before halftime.”
El Destape looked beyond the final and rated Martinez’s overall World Cup campaign 8/10, saying, “Secure in the central pairing and with a key goal against Cape Verde to set the game on track, ‘Licha’ was one of the highest points that the national team had throughout the tournament.”
Pagina 12 handed the United defender a 5/10 for the final itself, stating, “The priority was to contain Yamal’s movements in that area, and he didn’t always do it well. His forward runs often resulted in fouls.
“The physical exertion during a retreat caused him an injury, and he had to leave the field at the end of the first half.”
Meanwhile, La Voz rated Martínez 6/10, commenting, “Putting in his usual all-out effort, he was performing well until he had to leave the game due to injury.”
Although Argentina fell short in their bid to become back-to-back world champions, Martinez once again demonstrated why he remains one of the national team’s most trusted defenders whenever he is fit.
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