Josef Martinez injury a huge blow not just for Atlanta United, but all of MLS

Josef Martinez suffered an ACL injury in Atlanta United’s season opener and the former MVP’s big personality will be missed not just in Georgia, but across MLS.

Few stars sit higher on Major League Soccer’s headline billing than Josef Martinez.

The Venezuelan has become the league’s most reliable, consistent goalscorer since making the move to Atlanta United three years ago, scoring 77 goals in 84 appearances, and that was expected to continue this year. However, Martinez’s 2020 season may have started and finished on the same day.

The 26-year-old suffered an ACL tear in Atlanta United’s season opener against Nashville SC on Saturday with the Five Stripes confirming the damage the following day. It’s an injury that will most likely keep Martinez out for the entire season, leaving a significant void for Frank de Boer to fill. Martinez isn’t just Atlanta United’s top scorer and best player, but their spiritual leader. His energy and drive sets the tone for his teammates on the pitch, even the fans in the stands.

It’s not just the Georgians who will miss the Venezuelan. As with any injury of this sort to a star player, there is an impact to MLS as a whole.

Maybe it’s because the league is still in the business of presenting itself as the best possible product, but the loss of players, particularly ones as exhilarating as Martinez, feel more critical than is the case in the Premier League or any of the other major European leagues.

Of course, there are still plenty of players worth watching in MLS this season. Carlos Vela picked up where he left off last term by scoring a stunning chip in Los Angeles FC’s opening weekend win over Inter Miami while Cristian Pavon opened his account for 2020 with a remarkable strike from distance for the LA Galaxy against the Houston Dynamo.

Rodolfo Pizarro will surely conjure some moments of magic in South Florida having made the move from Liga MX in the off-season, with Alejandro Pozuelo a clutch performer for Toronto FC, as demonstrated in their run to last year’s MLS Cup. This league isn’t exactly short of headliners, but none are quite as explosive as Martinez. He is something different, something unique.

Ezequiel Barco will be required to step up for Atlanta United to compensate. The 20-year-old has taken longer than originally expected to acclimatize himself in MLS after making the $15 million move from Independiente two years ago, but all the signs point to this being a breakout season for the Argentine.

Indeed, Barco was exceptional in Atlanta United’s win in Nashville, netting the opening goal. Pity Martinez will also be expected to step up in Martinez’s absence. De Boer has more attacking talent than most MLS head coaches to make up for the loss of his top goalscorer. Atlanta United should still be among the league’s contenders this season, even without Martinez.

The Venezuelan striker is the embodiment of how MLS has changed in recent times. Atlanta United’s scouting system led them to Martinez as a player who hadn’t quite fulfilled his potential in Europe, scoring just seven times in three years for Torino. He wasn’t a big name at the time of his signing, but MLS has lifted Martinez to a different level. It’s not impossible that he could one day follow his former teammate Miguel Almiron in earning a big money switch to the Premier League. Newcastle United have been linked, even though Martinez has said he will stay in Atlanta “as long as they want me.”

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For now, though, Martinez’s upward trajectory will have to take a break. There’s no knowing how a serious injury like the one suffered by the Venezuelan will affect the player, especially with the striker so dependent on movement and energy in the final third, but Atlanta United will spend the season counting down the days until his return. They won’t be the only ones in the MLS fraternity doing that.