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Manchester United defender Lisandro Martínez continued his exceptional run at the World Cup with another outstanding display in Argentina’s 3-2 victory over Cape Verde. The 28-year-old returned to Lionel Scaloni’s starting lineup after being rested during the 3-1 win against Jordan in the final group-stage encounter.

Martínez marked his comeback with both a goal and an assist, playing a decisive role in guiding his team to the Round of 16. Known affectionately as ‘The Butcher’, he has been a pillar in defence for La Albiceleste at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, further justifying the admiration he enjoys from Manchester United supporters. His efforts have also drawn glowing reviews from the Argentine press.

TYC Sports awarded Martínez a 9/10 rating, describing him as the standout performer of the match. The publication wrote: “We can already say that Lisandro is enjoying a brilliant World Cup. Argentina needed that long ball, and there was Licha, with surgical precision, delivering a 50-metre assist.”

They continued: “He was also key in initiating moves multiple times, doing so with perfect judgement. And when the game reached its most intense phase, he struck with a stunning goal. An unforgettable performance.”

Meanwhile, Ole hailed the defender as a solid presence at the back, stating: “Another defensive stalwart. Unbeatable, swift, and dependable. A goal and an assist. He stood out with his distribution. In the 28th minute, he delivered a precise long ball that caught the opposition off guard and dismantled their defence, allowing Messi to open the scoring.”

“At 1–1, the ball unfortunately slipped through his legs. But unbothered by that moment, he redeemed himself just three minutes into the first half of extra time with a goal to make it 2–1.”

La Pagina Millonaria also gave the Manchester United star a 9/10 rating, writing: “A superb assist to Messi when the match seemed locked. A flawless first half. He briefly lost concentration during the move that led to Cape Verde’s goal, sharing in the team’s sluggish spell, which cost him dearly.”

“After that, he hesitated slightly when stepping out, losing some of his earlier boldness as confusion spread through the side. But it was only temporary. He bounced back brilliantly with an unstoppable strike early in extra time to restore Argentina’s lead at 2–1.”

Clarin highlighted Martínez’s exceptional distribution, noting: “Licha Martínez, the defender who plays like a playmaker, produced a pinpoint left-footed pass to Messi, the forward who plays like a playmaker, who controlled the ball beautifully with his left and fired it into the top corner.”

Renowned Argentine journalist Gaston Edul also praised Martínez on social media, commenting: “Lisandro Martínez was the standout.”

Martínez’s impressive performance follows a strong second half of the domestic campaign with Manchester United. The Argentine missed the start of last season due to an ACL injury sustained during the 2024/25 campaign but returned to full fitness by November.

Once back, Martínez quickly regained his top form under manager Michael Carrick, becoming indispensable as United secured a third-place finish in the Premier League. The ball-playing centre-back has carried that momentum into the summer tournament, solidifying his place as one of Lionel Scaloni’s most trusted players.