Fierce and combative Argentine defender nicknamed 'The Butcher' whose intensity and ball-playing ability belie his compact frame.
Lisandro Martínez was born in Gualeguay, Argentina on 18 January 1998. He began his career at Newell's Old Boys before joining Defensa y Justicia. In 2019, Ajax signed him and he quickly became a key player, winning two Eredivisie titles. Manchester United signed him for £57 million in July 2022 under Erik ten Hag, who had coached him at Ajax. Despite standing just 5ft 9in, his aggressive tackling, aerial prowess and composure on the ball made him a fan favourite at Old Trafford, earning the nickname 'The Butcher.' He won the League Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024 with United. A key member of Argentina's 2022 World Cup-winning squad, he also won the Copa América in 2024.
World Cup winning defender despite being 5'9" tall
Standing just 5ft 9in, he is one of the shortest elite centre-backs in world football, yet wins an exceptionally high percentage of his aerial duels.
Did You Know?How They Played
Aggressive, ball-playing centre-back with exceptional tackling and aerial ability despite modest height
Lasting Impact
One of Argentina's premier modern defenders; inspired a new archetype of the tenacious yet technically gifted centre-back
Career Honours
- World Cup 2022
- Copa América 2024
- League Cup 2023
- FA Cup 2024
- Eredivisie 2x
- Eredivisie 2021
- Eredivisie 2022
- Ajax Player of the Year 2021-22
- Argentine Primera División Team of the Season 2019
- 2022 CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions (Finalissima)
- Copa América 2021
| Club | Period | Fee | Apps | Goals | Shirt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newell's Old Boys | 2017–2019 | — | 1 | 1 | #2 |
| Ajax | 2019–2022 | €7m | 50 | 2 | #5 |
| Manchester United | 2022–present | €67.37m | 120 | 4 | #4 |
| Defensa y Justicia | 2017–2019 | € (50% rights purchased 2018) | 0 | 0 | — |
| Argentine | — | — | 45 | 1 | — |