Argentina’s Lisandro Martínez exits World Cup final against Spain due to injury

By Aditya Rao — 19 July 2026 — 3 min read

Early Setback for Argentina

Argentina faced an early challenge in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final against Spain at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, as key defender Lisandro Martínez was forced to leave the field due to an injury. The incident occurred just before halftime, impacting the defending global champions’ tactical setup.

Martínez, a central figure in Argentina’s defense, went down in the 44th minute and signaled to the bench that he could not continue. His departure led to a substitution, with Nicolás Otamendi entering the match in the 43rd minute to replace him. This change came after Martínez had received the game’s first yellow card in the 41st minute for a tackle on Spanish forward Mikel Oyarzabal.

The injury to the Manchester United center-back occurred shortly after this challenge. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez urgently called for assistance, prompting manager Lionel Scaloni to make the early substitution. The exact nature of Martínez’s injury was not immediately clear, but it appeared to be a leg injury.

Impact on the Match and Team Performance

Martínez’s early exit compounded what was described as a sluggish opening period for Argentina. The team struggled to find its rhythm and did not manage to seriously test Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simón during the first half. Spain, on the other hand, maintained significant possession through midfielders Rodri and Fabian Ruiz.

This dominance in midfield meant that Argentina’s attacking players, including Lionel Messi and Julián Álvarez, received limited service upfront. Scaloni’s squad primarily absorbed pressure rather than asserting their usual attacking style. Spain created periodic threats, particularly through Lamine Yamal on the right flank, but neither side managed to break the 0-0 deadlock by halftime.

The injury to Martínez leaves Argentina’s backline vulnerable for the remainder of the match, including any potential extra time. Martínez had been a crucial performer throughout Argentina’s knockout campaign, contributing both defensive aggression and vital ball-playing capabilities 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 and providing an assist in Argentina’s round of 32 victory over Cape Verde. This goal marked his second in international play. Sunday’s final was his 35th appearance for Argentina.

Concerns and Tactical Adjustments

As both continental champions headed into the tunnel with the score tied at 0-0, Scaloni faced a significant tactical challenge. With Otamendi now anchoring the defense against Spain’s fast wingers, Argentina would need a considerably improved performance in the second half to retain their world title.

The injury is a further concern for Martínez, who had previously missed several months in 2025 due to an ACL injury and also dealt with a calf problem earlier in the year. His consistent presence in the starting lineup throughout the tournament underscored his importance to the team’s success.

Following the halftime break, Argentina made another substitution, replacing forward Nicolás González with midfielder Leandro Paredes. Paredes received a yellow card shortly after his entry. Both Argentina and Manchester United are awaiting an official update on Martínez’s condition after the match.

The starting lineups for the final included: Spain XI: Unai Simon (GK), Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella, Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal, Alex Baena. Argentina XI: Emiliano Martinez (GK), Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico, Enzo Fernandez, Rodrigo de Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Nico Gonzalez, Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com