Manchester United star Lisandro Martinez has praised his “impressive” Argentina teammate and believes he will feature for his country at the 2026 World Cup.
Lisandro Martinez was part of the Argentina squad that emerged victorious at the 2022 World Cup under manager Lionel Scaloni in Qatar.
Argentina were stunned in their 2022 World Cup opener after La Albiceleste suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia in their Group C clash.
However, Lionel Scaloni’s men bounced back and won their matches against Poland and Mexico to come out on top of Group C.
Lionel Messi captained his country to the World Cup final and Argentina beat France in a thrilling penalty shootout to capture football’s biggest prize.
Martinez, whose 2023-24 season with Manchester United was plagued with injuries, made his Argentina debut under Lionel Scaloni.
The 26-year-old United defender has been capped 16 times for his country, including making five appearances for Argentina during their 2022 World Cup campaign.
Scaloni has been widely praised for his transformative impact on Argentina after leading his country to a Copa America title and a World Cup trophy.
Martinez talks ‘very calm’ Argentina star
Manchester United duo Lisandro Martinez and Alejandro Garnacho have both been called up for international duty with Argentina this summer.
The 2022 World Cup champions will begin their Copa America title defence in the United States for the 2024 edition of the Copa America.
Argentina defeated host nation Brazil 1-0 at the 2021 Copa America, with United flop Angel Di Maria scoring the winner for Lionel Scaloni’s men.
Speaking ahead of the 2024 Copa America, Martinez insisted that Argentina players are convinced that the tournament won’t be the last one for Lionel Messi.
Barcelona legend Messi captained his country to their last two pieces of major silverware, but his long-term future with Argentina remains uncertain.
“He’s very calm, more than anything he’s enjoying the day-to-day,” Martinez told reporters on Thursday, as per ESPN.
“It’s beautiful to be here, we all have a great relationship.
“When one is here, one is very happy. We feel at home, which is important. We don’t see it [as his last tournament with Argentina].
“We see him happy, and with an impressive level. That’s what I can tell you.”
Will Martinez be right on Messi prediction?
Messi, who is considered one of the best players of all time, has been playing for MLS side Inter Miami since 2023 after he left Paris Saint-Germain.
The 36-year-old Argentine forward played an instrumental role in Argentina’s last World Cup success, with Messi scooping the Golden Ball award for best player.
However, Messi will be 39 by the time the 2026 World Cup begins in North America and the Inter Miami superstar could bow out of international football before then.
Scaloni, much like Martinez, is still convinced that the 2024 Copa America won’t be Messi’s last major international tournament with Argentina.
“We Argentines are too melancholic,” he told Telemundo.
“We are already thinking about the day when [Messi] is not here while he’s still playing.
“Let’s enjoy him and we’ll see what happens next. I think what he’s doing right now is so important.
“And for everyone, not only for Argentina, because at the end Leo plays for those who like football. But someday [his retirement] will happen.”