Lisandro Martínez Discusses ACL Injury Challenges and His Comeback at Man Utd

Lisandro Martinez has made 10 appearances since returning from a knee injury that sidelined him for most of the year. The Manchester United defender shared the difficulties he faced during his recovery and how it has shaped his mindset since rejoining the team.

Martinez was carried off the field during a match against Crystal Palace in February 2025 due to an ACL injury.

Initially, he was not expected to return until much later in the year, but he made a comeback in December, fittingly against Palace.

Now, Martinez has played in 10 matches, but United still has 17 games left this season before the 27-year-old joins the Argentina squad to defend their World Cup title.

It remains uncertain who Carrick will choose as his main centre-back pairing for the rest of the season.

Lisandro Martinez considered retirement after ACL injury

Injuries can be tough for players, and Martinez’s nine-month recovery was challenging. This was not his first major setback since joining United from Ajax in 2022.

In an interview with AFA Estudio, Martinez discussed the tough recovery and admitted he had thoughts about leaving the sport. “I relied on my family and friends,” he stated, via Ole.

“In the first two or three weeks, to be honest, I didn’t want to play football anymore. After suffering a foot fracture and now this knee injury, I thought: ‘That’s enough; I don’t want anything to do with it.’”

“You have to reinvent yourself, starting from scratch in every aspect: physically, mentally, and personally. You start to feel like you’re not a football player.”

Lisandro Martinez gained a new perspective after ACL injury