Argentina’s Lisandro Martínez injured in World Cup final against Spain

By Rohan Gupta — 20 July 2026 — 3 min read

Martinez’s Early Exit

Argentina faced a significant setback in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final against Spain when defender Lisandro Martínez was forced to leave the field due to injury just before halftime. The incident occurred during a goalless first half at MetLife Stadium. Martínez, a key player for Argentina, signaled to the bench that he could not continue after going down on the pitch.

The Manchester United centre-back had received the first yellow card of the match in the 41st minute for a challenge on Spanish forward Mikel Oyarzabal. Shortly after, he appeared to be in distress. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez urgently called for assistance, leading to manager Lionel Scaloni bringing on veteran Nicolás Otamendi in the 43rd minute.

A Lacklustre First Half for Argentina

Martínez’s departure compounded what had already been a subdued opening period for the defending champions. Argentina struggled to find their rhythm and did not manage to seriously test Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simón. Spain, meanwhile, controlled possession through players like Rodri and Fabian Ruiz, limiting opportunities for Lionel Messi and Julián Álvarez upfront.

Scaloni’s side found it difficult to break through Spain’s defensive lines, often choosing to absorb pressure rather than assert their typical attacking style. Although Spain created some threats, particularly through Lamine Yamal on the right flank, neither team managed to score before the halftime whistle, leaving the match tied at 0-0.

A Recurring Pattern for Spain’s Opponents

Martínez’s injury continues a notable trend in Spain’s knockout matches throughout the World Cup 2026. This marks the fourth consecutive knockout game where a key opponent has sustained an injury during play. In the Round of 16 against Portugal, left-back Nuno Mendes was injured, allowing Lamine Yamal more space to operate, which contributed to Spain’s late victory.

The quarter-final against Belgium saw goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois exit due to injury, with his replacement, Senne Lammens, making a crucial error that Spain capitalized on. In the semi-finals, France’s centre-back William Saliba was injured in the first half, impacting their defensive stability. While France had other issues, Saliba’s absence did not aid their efforts against Spain.

The injury to Lisandro Martínez in the final adds another chapter to this pattern. However, one report notes a difference this time: Martínez had already received a yellow card, meaning Argentina no longer needs to be concerned about him accumulating another booking. The introduction of Otamendi, with his experience, could potentially stabilize the defense for the remainder of the match.

As the two continental champions entered the tunnel at halftime with the score at 0-0, Scaloni faces a significant tactical challenge. Argentina will need a much-improved performance in the second half to retain their world title, with Otamendi now anchoring the defense against Spain’s fast wingers.

Impact on Argentina’s Campaign

The injury to the 28-year-old defender leaves Argentina’s backline vulnerable for the remaining 45 minutes and any potential extra time. Martínez had been a consistent performer throughout Argentina’s knockout campaign, providing both defensive aggression and crucial ball-playing abilities from the back. He had started all but one match for Argentina in this World Cup, with his only benching occurring when the team had already secured its position in the group stage.

Martínez also contributed offensively during the tournament, scoring a goal in Argentina’s Round of 32 victory over Cape Verde, which was his second international goal, and also registering an assist in that match. Sunday’s final marked his 35th appearance for Argentina. Following the halftime break, Argentina made another substitution, replacing forward Nicolás González with midfielder Leandro Paredes, who received a yellow card shortly after entering the game.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Rohan Gupta

Sports Reporter