Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez made an impactful debut for Argentina in their Copa America campaign opener against Canada, where he played a crucial role in securing a 2-0 victory for La Albiceleste. Partnering with Cristian Romero in central defense, Martinez displayed a blend of defensive solidity and composure on the ball that bodes well for both club and country.

Facing a resilient Canadian side, Argentina initially struggled to break the deadlock but found success in the second half. Julian Alvarez opened the scoring in the 49th minute, followed by a late goal from Lautaro Martinez assisted by Lionel Messi in the 88th minute. Throughout the match, Lisandro Martinez demonstrated his defensive acumen with key clearances and interceptions, effectively thwarting Canada’s attempts to score.

Martinez’s performance earned him a respectable 7.2 rating from Sofascore, reflecting his contributions in defense and his adeptness in distributing the ball from the back. He maintained a high passing accuracy of 93%, completing 83 out of 89 passes, and showcased his playmaking ability with a crucial through ball that nearly resulted in another goal for Argentina.

United supporters will be pleased to see Martinez’s seamless integration into Argentina’s defensive setup, especially given his consistent playing time and solid performances. As Argentina prepares to face Chile next, Martinez will look to build on this debut and continue making a positive impact in the tournament, while Alejandro Garnacho awaits his chance to contribute for his nation after being sidelined in the first match.