Lisandro Martinez booked his place in the World Cup final after Argentina beat England 2-1.
England took the lead through Anthony Gordon in the 55th minute, but the world champions forced a remarkable comeback at the end, courtesy of goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez.
Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez kept his place in Lionel Scaloni’s line-up, starting alongside Cristian Romero at centre-back.
Here’s how the Argentine press reacted to Martinez’s display.
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Argentine press reaction to Lisandro Martinez
It would be fair to say the Argentine press has been in overdrive reacting to their 2026 World Cup semi-final win over England.
Many of the national outlets published player ratings after the match, with Martinez earning a 6/10 rating from the majority.
Pagina 12 was among the publications to give Martinez 6/10, but acknowledged that he struggled against Harry Kane, who didn’t have a significant impact on the match.
While Martinez struggled in the air against England, TyC Sports hailed the Butcher for his work on the ground with a 6/10 rating.
Another 6/10 rating came from El Sol, describing it as a straightforward match for Martinez, despite being substituted in the second half and replaced by Nicolas Otamendi.
Meanwhile, La Pagina Millonaria gave Martinez a lower rating of 5/10. They praised the 28-year-old for his passing but noted how he was not as reliable as he had been in previous games at the tournament.
Martinez is expected to keep his place in the Argentina line-up for Sunday’s eagerly anticipated final against Spain. He can become the first United player to win two World Cup winners’ medals.
- ⚡️ NEWS IN BRIEF
- Argentina beat England 2-1 in the World Cup semi-final
- Lisandro Martinez earned an average 6/10 rating for his performance from the Argentine press
- Martinez’s lowest rating was 5/10
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What did Lisandro Martinez say after memorable win over England?
Martinez, who always plays with passion, spoke to the national press after the semi-final win over England.
‘Licha’ stressed that the squad felt the significance of the tie against a rival.
“I won’t lie to you, we’re all Argentinians and we experienced it like the fans,” Martinez said, as quoted by TyC Sports.
“We knew the magnitude of this game and went for it from the first minute. We had to suffer because they’re a very tough opponent, but in the end, we’re always the ones who take the initiative, the ones who play without fear, and the ones who want to win.”
Martinez added: “What we did today will go down in history, and it was a real treat for every Argentinian. That’s what fills our hearts: that people feel a connection and see on television a team that truly represents them. We’re one step away, but now we’re going to enjoy what we’ve achieved.”
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