 Martínez withAtlanta United in 2017 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Josef Alexander Martínez Mencia | ||
| Date of birth | (1993-05-19)19 May 1993 (age 32) | ||
| Place of birth | Valencia,Carabobo, Venezuela | ||
| Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | San Jose Earthquakes | ||
| Number | 17 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2010 | Caracas | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010–2012 | Caracas | 36 | (8) |
| 2012–2014 | Young Boys | 37 | (4) |
| 2013–2014 | →Thun (loan) | 18 | (8) |
| 2014–2017 | Torino | 58 | (7) |
| 2017 | →Atlanta United (loan) | 3 | (5) |
| 2017–2022 | Atlanta United | 131 | (93) |
| 2023 | Inter Miami | 27 | (7) |
| 2024 | CF Montréal | 23 | (11) |
| 2025– | San Jose Earthquakes | 30 | (14) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2011–2013 | Venezuela U20 | 4 | (2) |
| 2011– | Venezuela | 70 | (15) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 18 October 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 23:25, 10 September 2025 (UTC) | |||
Josef Alexander Martínez Mencia (born 19 May 1993) is a Venezuelan professionalfootballer who plays as astriker forMajor League Soccer clubSan Jose Earthquakes and theVenezuela national team.
Josef Martínez began his career withCaracas. In 2012, he was acquired by theSwiss Super League clubYoung Boys before spending a year on loan atThun. In 2014, he was sold to Italian clubTorino, and in 2017,Major League Soccer expansion side,Atlanta United. He later joinedInter Miami for the 2023 season. He holds the MLS record for career hat-tricks with six in his first 44 games, the record for cumulative goals in regular and post season with 35, the record for most consecutive games with a goal (15), and formerly held the record for goals in a single season (31 in 2018). Additionally, Martínez scored100 goals in the MLS faster than any single player in league history (125 games).
In 2018, Martínez became the most decorated single-season player in MLS history by winning theLeague MVP,All-Star Game MVP,Golden Boot, andMLS Cup Final MVP.
He is a former Venezuelaunder-20 international. In 2011, he made his debut for the senior Venezuela national team againstEl Salvador, and has since represented his nation at three editions of theCopa América.
Martínez made his debut forCaracas on 21 August 2010 againstEstudiantes de Mérida, entering as a substitute in the 70th minute, won 1–0. He scored his first goal in a 2–2 draw againstDeportivo Petare on 21 November 2010.[2]
On 3 January 2012, Caracas announced Martínez had been sold toYoung Boys of theSwiss Super League for a period of four years along with fellow right-backAlexander Gonzalez. He debuted on 5 February 2012 againstServette, which the Young Boys won 3–1. After a string of good performances, Martínez was called up to theVenezuela national team, as well as awarded his first start for Young Boys on 21 October 2012, in which he scored his first goal for the Swiss club with a volley in the 50th minute againstGrasshoppers.
After one season in the Swiss capital city, he was sent on loan toThun. After scoring eight goals in 18 games with the team fromBernese Oberland, he was momentarily the top scorer in the Swiss Super League and recalled by Young Boys.[3]
On 7 June 2014, Martínez was sold to ItalianSerie A clubTorino for a reported fee of €3 million.[4][5] He made his debut in a 0–3 away win against Sweden'sBrommapojkarna in thethird round of the2014–15 Europa League.[6] He scored his first goal for theGranata in the return leg, won 4–0 inTurin (7–0on aggregate).[7]
He made his league debut on 14 September in a 2–0 loss away toSampdoria.[8] On 7 December, he scored his first goal in Serie A during a 2–2 draw withPalermo.[9] Four days later, he scored his first brace in theEuropa League againstCopenhagen, which ended 5–1 in favour of Torino.[10]
On 30 April 2016, he scored his first brace in Serie A, as Torino won 5–1 away toUdinese.[11]
On 2 February 2017, Martínez was loaned with a buying option toMajor League Soccer expansion teamAtlanta United.[12][13] He made his league debut on 5 March in a 2–1 home defeat againstNew York Red Bulls.[14] He scored his first career hat-trick, and the first hat-trick in the history of the club, in a 6–1 win atMinnesota United the following week.[15]
On 21 March, Atlanta announced they had activated the buyout clause for an undisclosed transfer fee.[16] He was named the MLS Player of the Month for March after scoring five goals in his first three games in the league.[17]
On 23 March, while playing for the Venezuela national team againstPeru, Martínez injured his left quadricep.[18] After more than two months of recuperation, he returned to action only to be injured again over the summer. Upon his return from the second injury, he scored hat tricks in two consecutive games against theNew England Revolution andOrlando City, and was named the MLS Player of the Month for September 2017.[19] Atlanta United finished in a tie for third in the Eastern Conference, but were eliminated in the first round of theMLS Cup Playoffs byColumbus Crew. Despite only making 20 appearances (all competitions) due to injury, Martínez finished his first year in Atlanta fourth in the league in scoring, with 20 goals in all competitions, and was named to theMLS Best XI for the 2017 season.[20]
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On 2 June 2018, Martínez converted a late penalty kick againstPhiladelphia Union to notch his fifth MLS hat-trick, tying the league record for hat-tricks and doing so faster than any other player in league history.[21] He broke the record for hat-tricks on 21 July 2018 against DC United, after only 44 games.
He was voted the MLS Player of the Month for July after scoring ten goals and adding one assist to lead the Five Stripes to a 3–1–1 record.[22]
He scored the only goal for the MLS All-Stars in the2018 MLS All-Star Game againstJuventus, a 1–1 draw, and was named MVP.[23][24]
On 24 August 2018, he scored his 28th goal of the season, a game winner inOrlando City, to break the league single-season record of 27, held byRoy Lassiter,Chris Wondolowski, andBradley Wright-Phillips. After failing to capitalize on numerous opportunities, Martínez utilized his quick footwork to cut back against the defender and then chipJoe Bendik to set the record in just his 26th match. He was named MLS Player of the Month for August 2018.[25] Atlanta United won the MLS Cup that season.
On 6 August 2019, Martínez was awarded the MLS Player of the Month for July.[26] He earned the award having scored in nine straight matches, tying his own MLS record set the previous season, which was also shared withDiego Valeri.[26]
On 23 August, he set a new MLS record by scoring a goal in 12 consecutive games.[27] The goal helped his side to a 1–0 win over rivalsOrlando City and was his 15th strike during the streak.[28] On 18 September, Martínez extended his goal-scoring record to 15 consecutive games, which is the third longest streak in world football afterLionel Messi (33 goals in 21 games) andTor Henning Hamre (21 goals in 15 games).[29]
On 29 February 2020, in Atlanta United’s first game of the 2020 season, Martínez suffered a tornACL against MLS debutantNashville. Martínez missed the entirety of the 2020 season.[30]
Martínez made his first appearance since early last season on 6 April 2021 in theCONCACAF Champions League againstAlajuelense, coming on as a 67th minute substitute in the 1–0 away victory.[31] On 9 May 2021, Martínez scored his first goal of the season in a 1–1 draw againstInter Miami.[32] In July 2021, after returning fromCopa América, it was revealed by coachGabriel Heinze that Martínez was training away from the team, with no specific reason given.[33] Heinze was removed as Atlanta United's coach on 18 July and Martínez played his first match since returning on 21 July againstFC Cincinnati. He came on as a substitute in the 1–1 draw.[34]
On 30 July 2021, Martínez scored the opening goal for Atlanta United in the first minute of a 3–2 away defeat againstOrlando City.[35] He then scored the first goal for Atlanta on 4 August in their 2–2 draw againstCF Montréal. Martínez also earned a red card in the 82nd minute following an altercation with Montréal'sVictor Wanyama.[36] He returned to the side on 15 August, scoring the only goal in a 1–0 home victory againstLos Angeles FC.[37]
Martínez scored his first goal of the 2022 season on 13 March 2022. After a second successful knee surgery, he started his first game since April, where he went on to score a goal and assisted another.
At the end of the season, after winning the award for the 2022 MLS Goal of the Year, Martínez did not renew his contract with Atlanta United, subsequently leaving the club after six seasons.[38]
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On 18 January 2023, it was announced that Martínez had been traded toInter Miami.[38] Martínez made his2023 Inter Miami season debut in a match againstCF Montréal on 25 February 2023, ending in a 2–0 win.[39]
On 19 August, Inter Miami won the2023 Leagues Cup, with Martínez scoring three goals in the competition. Later on, Inter Miami went to the2023 U.S. Open Cup final, where they lost 1–2 against theHouston Dynamo, with Martínez scoring the only goal.
On 21 October, Inter Miami's head coach,Gerardo Martino, confirmed that Martinez would leave Inter Miami after only one season.[40] Four days later, the club confirmed the player's departure.[41]
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On 6 February 2024,CF Montréal announced that they had signed Martínez as afree agent for the2024 season with an option for a further year. Though his option was declined he tallied a total of 13 goals and 3 assists.[42]
On 13 January 2025, Martínez joinedSan Jose Earthquakes as a free agent, signing a one-year deal.[43]
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Martínez made his international debut on 7 August 2011 against El Salvador as a substitute in the 76th minute.[2]
On 10 November 2016 (matchday 11 of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification), Martínez scored a hat-trick againstBolivia in a 5–0 win inMaturín.
While he started as a winger, a position in which he often played at Torino under Sinisa Mihajlovic, it was Gerardo Martino who changed his position, converting him into a center forward.Primarily aforward, Martínez is an aggressive and powerful player, who usually plays in acentral role as a mainstriker, but who is also capable of playing as awinger. His pace,dribbling ability, eye for goal, and his accurate finishing ability with either foot, as well as his head, combined with his ability to make attacking runs off the ball from behind and get into good positions, make him a dangerous attacking threat in the penalty area.[44][45][46][47][48]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Caracas | 2010–11 | Venezuelan Primera División | 21 | 4 | — | 7[b] | 1 | — | 28 | 5 | ||
| 2011–12 | 15 | 4 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 15 | 4 | ||||
| Total | 36 | 8 | — | 7 | 1 | — | 43 | 9 | ||||
| Young Boys | 2011–12 | Swiss Super League | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 0 | ||
| 2012–13 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 1 | ||||
| 2013–14 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 18 | 3 | ||||
| Total | 37 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 4 | ||||
| Thun | 2013–14 | Swiss Super League | 18 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 11[c] | 1 | — | 32 | 10 | |
| Torino | 2014–15 | Serie A | 26 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 13[c] | 3 | — | 40 | 7 | |
| 2015–16 | 21 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 23 | 4 | ||||
| 2016–17 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 12 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 58 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 13 | 3 | — | 75 | 13 | |||
| Atlanta United | 2017 | MLS | 20 | 19 | 1 | 1 | — | 1[d] | 0 | 22 | 20 | |
| 2018 | 34 | 31 | — | — | 5[d] | 4 | 39 | 35 | ||||
| 2019 | 29 | 27 | 2 | 1 | 5[e] | 4 | 3[d] | 1 | 39 | 33 | ||
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[f] | 2 | — | 3 | 2 | ||||
| 2021 | 24 | 12 | — | 4[f] | 0 | 1[d] | 0 | 29 | 12 | |||
| 2022 | 26 | 9 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 26 | 9 | ||||
| Total | 134 | 98 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 158 | 111 | ||
| Inter Miami | 2023 | MLS | 27 | 7 | 6 | 2 | — | 7[g] | 3 | 40 | 12 | |
| CF Montréal | 2024 | MLS | 23 | 11 | 0 | 0 | — | 3[h] | 3 | 26 | 14 | |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 2025 | MLS | 30 | 14 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 14 | ||
| Career total | 363 | 157 | 18 | 8 | 42 | 11 | 20 | 11 | 443 | 187 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venezuela | 2011 | 3 | 0 |
| 2012 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2014 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2016 | 15 | 5 | |
| 2017 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2021 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2023 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2025 | 4 | 1 | |
| Total | 70 | 15 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22 May 2013 | Estadio José Pachencho Romero,Maracaibo, Venezuela | 7 |  El Salvador | 2–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 2 | 14 August 2013 | 9 |  Bolivia | 1–0 | 2–2 | ||
| 3 | 31 March 2015 | Lockhart Stadium,Fort Lauderdale, United States | 17 |  Peru | 1–0 | 1–0 | |
| 4 | 17 November 2015 | Estadio Cachamay,Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela | 22 |  Ecuador | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 5 | 5 June 2016 | Soldier Field,Chicago, United States | 28 |  Jamaica | 1–0 | 1–0 | Copa América Centenario |
| 6 | 6 September 2016 | Estadio Metropolitano de Mérida,Mérida, Venezuela | 33 |  Argentina | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 7 | 10 November 2016 | Estadio Monumental,Maturín, Venezuela | 36 | Bolivia | 2–0 | 5–0 | |
| 8 | 3–0 | ||||||
| 9 | 4–0 | ||||||
| 10 | 22 March 2019 | Wanda Metropolitano,Madrid, Spain | 46 | Argentina | 3–1 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 11 | 22 June 2019 | Estádio Mineirão,Belo Horizonte, Brazil | 50 | Bolivia | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2019 Copa América |
| 12 | 1 February 2022 | Estadio Centenario,Montevideo, Uruguay | 57 |  Uruguay | 1–4 | 1–4 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 13 | 27 September 2022 | Stadion Wiener Neustadt,Wiener Neustadt, Austria | 60 |  United Arab Emirates | 4–0 | 4–0 | Friendly |
| 14 | 25 March 2023 | Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium,Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | 61 |  Saudi Arabia | 1–0 | 2–1 | |
| 15 | 9 September 2025 | Estadio Monumental, Maturín, Venezuela | 70 |  Colombia | 2–1 | 3–6 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Atlanta United
Inter Miami
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