Lisandro Martínez Reflects on Recovery and Personal Growth After Injury

Lisandro Martínez, defender for Manchester United, recently opened up about his challenging recovery from a torn ACL, disclosing that he contemplated leaving football during some of the darkest moments of his rehabilitation.

In an interview with AFA Estudio, the Argentine international admitted, “After the first two or three weeks, I didn’t want to play football anymore. I had already endured a foot fracture, and now another injury to my knee… I thought, ‘That’s it, I don’t want to deal with this anymore.'”

Martínez’s injury struggles began at the end of the 2022-23 season with a foot injury, which limited him to just 11 Premier League appearances in the following campaign. In February 2025, he suffered a torn ACL, leading to surgery that kept him sidelined for ten months.

The 27-year-old described the profound impact of his injuries, stating, “When I get injured, I lose my balance completely because the pain is unbearable. My initial reaction was to go home to Argentina to be with my family. I felt like enough was enough; I didn’t want to suffer anymore. However, when you’re in such a state of imbalance, you can say anything that isn’t truly representative of your feelings. I did go through a period of mourning during those three weeks when I wasn’t myself.”

During his rehabilitation, Martínez recognized the need to “reinvent” himself both physically and mentally. He expressed the challenges of coping with the ongoing pain and the fear of not being able to return to his previous form, stating, “You have to reinvent yourself in every sense: physically, mentally, and personally. At times, it felt like I wasn’t a football player anymore.”

The support from his family, friends, and professional psychological assistance played a crucial role in his perseverance. “That is where you show your true personality,” he remarked, acknowledging how vital their encouragement was when he felt tempted to give up.

A pivotal moment in his journey was the birth of his daughter, which he credits as his primary motivation to continue fighting. “What made the difference was the birth of my daughter. I got injured a month before she was born, and I thought to myself, ‘No way am I giving up.’ She became my driving force every day, and I committed to giving my best in training solely for her.”

Martínez made his return to the pitch on November 30 against Crystal Palace and has since been reintegrated into the Manchester United lineup, also resuming training with the Argentine national team under Lionel Scaloni, reflecting the coaching staff’s trust in him as the 2026 World Cup approaches.

“I feel very well. I was somewhat surprised because I thought coming back would be more challenging, but we managed my minutes effectively; everything has been very gradual. The club did a fantastic job, which contributed significantly to how good I feel now. Physically and mentally, I’m better than ever.”

He chose to embrace his hardships with introspection: “I started to reflect. What is this experience trying to teach me? How can I grow from this situation? I viewed it as a positive lesson. Sometimes, you must endure challenges to learn and rebuild. When you feel on top of the world, life has a way of reminding you, ‘This isn’t the way.'”

Martínez concluded by acknowledging the profound impact of his injury: “While it may seem extreme to say ‘thank you’ to this injury, as no one enjoys being hurt, I can say that it has changed me significantly as a person. My perspective on life has shifted; I now appreciate life more deeply, as well as the simple joys of the game — the weather, the smell of the grass, the feel of a ball, and stepping onto the pitch. Everything has new meaning for me.”