In less than two seasons in Major League Soccer, Atlanta United forward Josef Martinez has scored 43 goals in as many matches, including 24 this year. He is only three behind Roy Lassiter, Chris Wondolowski and Bradley Wright-Phillips for the single-season record.
Here is a little more information on the striker that is tearing up MLS.
WHY IS HE IN THE NEWS?
Scoring at a rate of one goal per game will probably do it. But the fact that Martinez is closing in on the MLS single-season record in the middle of the summer is simply ludicrous.
Martinez also bagged his sixth hat trick in MLS, setting a new league record in the process, after just 42 appearances.
The 25-year-old forward has been consistent, too. Martinez has not gone scoreless for more than two games since joining Atlanta, and he’s only experienced those two-match skids just twice.
Simply put, Martinez is a scoring machine and he still has 11 more games to break the single-season scoring record. When all is said and done, he might end up hitting 30 goals by the end of the campaign.
WHAT MAKES HIM SPECIAL?
Even though he’s billed at just 5-foot-6, Martinez is equally adept at scoring with either foot or his head, even against defenders who are close to a foot taller than him.
https://twitter.com/JogaBonito_USA/status/1007053049511235585
Martinez’s ability to read opposing defences, time his runs and finish with such calmness in the area are unlike any other forward in MLS.
Here are a few examples that highlight all three of those traits.
The Golden Boot leader is at it again
Make that 23 for @JosefMartinez17 pic.twitter.com/OEx6MHYqLr
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) July 28, 2018
https://twitter.com/JogaBonito_USA/status/1018580288195227648
https://twitter.com/JogaBonito_USA/status/1014673187119001600
https://twitter.com/JogaBonito_USA/status/1013230757706391553
The likes Miguel Almiron and Hector Villalba are crucial to both Martinez’s and Atlanta’s success, but Martinez is crazy clinical. He has a conversion rate of 38.7 per cent off 62 shots this season, and 33.3 per cent from 129 attempts in his MLS career.
CLUB CAREER
Martinez was first discovered by his current agent when the striker was nine years old living in Valencia, Venezuela after scoring five goals in a match. He went on to play for Estudiantes de la Plata in Argentina in his early teens, but needed a work visa to stay in the country, which he failed to obtain.
After returning to Venezuela, Martinez debuted for Caracas in the domestic league at 17 years of age. A few months later, he became one of the youngest-ever scorers in Copa Libertadores history in his team’s 2-1 win over Chilean club Union Espanola.
Nine goals in 43 appearances in Venezuela, coupled with his debut for the national team, led to a transfer to Swiss side BSC Young Boys in the winter of 2012. Martinez struggled to score initially so he was sent on loan to FC Thun and recorded eight goals in 18 appearances, which led to a recall to his parent club.
However, he failed to replicate that form and departed for Torino in Serie A. Martinez was mostly a rotation option, and when he did play, it was out wide.
Eventually, Atlanta United acquired the striker on loan with an option to buy in Feb. 2017. Martinez was purchased permanently the very next month and the rest, as they say, is history.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT HIM
“I saw him play with Venezuela, played against him, and saw him play in Copa America. He was a decisive player in Copa America and whenever he played in Venezuela. So to be honest, I have to say that I thought he would be that for us as well.” – Atlanta United coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino.
“He’s just ruthless in front of the net. He just loves to score goals. He gets upset in trainings and in little games in training (where) we’re just goofing around, he gets upset if he doesn’t score goals. It’s just what he does. It’s what he loves to do and you can see it out there.” – Atlanta United captain Michael Parkhust.
“For me, there’s no question about it: Josef Martinez, in this current form — best striker in Major League Soccer history.” – Ex-Venezuela international, current ESPN pundit Alejandro Moreno.
HE SAID IT
“I think what happened on the other teams is I played with is that there was always another forward, or someone who was bigger than me. So I always played with someone. Here, I’m learning a lot in the new position. You’re always learning new things. I’m learning how to use my body. But it’s also a credit to my teammates. I’m really grateful for them and all the help that they’ve given me.”
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