Cristian Martínez (Panamanian footballer)

Cristian Jesús Martínez (born 6 February 1997) is a Panamanian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ironi Kiryat Shmona and the Panama national team.

Cristian Martínez
Martínez with Panama in 2024
Personal information
Full name Cristian Jesús Martínez
Date of birth (1997-02-06) 6 February 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth Panama City, Panama
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Ironi Kiryat Shmona
Youth career
2005–2013 Chorrillo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2017 Chorrillo 37 (3)
2016Columbus Crew (loan) 5 (1)
2016Pittsburgh Riverhounds (loan) 8 (0)
2017–2018 Columbus Crew 22 (0)
2017FC Cincinnati (loan) 1 (0)
2019 Chicago Fire 5 (0)
2019Las Vegas Lights (loan) 9 (2)
2020–2023 Cádiz B 1 (0)
2020Recreativo de Huelva (loan) 4 (0)
2021Plaza Amador (loan) 30 (2)
2022–2023Monagas (loan) 29 (0)
2023 Najran 16 (0)
2023– Plaza Amador 4 (0)
2023–2024Al-Jandal (loan) 28 (7)
2024–Ironi Kiryat Shmona (loan) 10 (0)
International career
2017 Panama U20 5 (0)
2016– Panama 50 (1)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Panama
CONCACAF Gold Cup
Runner-up 2023 United States–Canada Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:25, 9 November 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:30, 18 November 2024 (UTC)

Club career

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Chorrillo

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Martínez joined the youth team of his local side Chorrillo at the age of 8, eventually joining the club's first team in 2012.

Columbus Crew

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Martínez signed on loan with Major League Soccer side Columbus Crew on 17 May 2016.[1][2] Martínez made his MLS debut on June 1, 2016, coming on as a substitute in a 3-2 loss to Philadelphia Union. He scored in the 90+3', becoming the youngest Crew SC goal scorer in a regular-season match in club history.[3] Martínez would be loaned by Crew SC to Pittsburgh Riverhounds, the club's USL affiliate. He made his Riverhounds debut against FC Montreal on August 10, 2016. Crew SC would recall Martínez for two more appearances at the end of the MLS season. On January 25, 2017 Martínez was acquired on a permanent transfer.[4] On May 4, 2017, Martínez was loaned to United Soccer League club FC Cincinnati.[5] He played in one game before returning to Columbus Crew on May 8.[6]

The club declined Martinez's contract option following the 2018 season, ending his time in Columbus after three years, 31 total appearances, and three goals.[7]

Chicago Fire

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On 12 December 2018, Martínez was selected by Chicago Fire in the MLS Waiver Draft.[8]

On 24 August 2019, Martínez joined USL Championship side Las Vegas Lights on loan for the remainder of the season.[9]

Cádiz

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On January 18, 2020, Cádiz CF announced his signing until 2022 and that he would be loaned to a Segunda División B team. On January 24 it was made official that that team would be Recreativo de Huelva.

On January 30, 2021, Cádiz CF announced his six-month loan to CD Plaza Amador of Panama.

Najran

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On 20 January 2023, Martínez joined Saudi Arabian club Najran.[10][11]

Plaza Amador

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On 26 July 2023, Martínez joined Plaza Amador.[12]

Al-Jandal

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On 16 September 2023, Martínez joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Jandal.[13]

Ironi Kiryat Shmona

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On 13 July 2024 signed for the Israeli club Ironi Kiryat Shmona.[14]

International career

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In May 2018 he was named in Panama's preliminary 35 man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.[15] However, he did not make the final 23.[16]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 9 November 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Chorrillo 2013–14 Liga Panameña de Fútbol 5 0 0 0 5 0
2014–15 Liga Panameña de Fútbol 1 0 0 0 1 0
2015–16 Liga Panameña de Fútbol 31 3 0 0 31 3
Total 37 3 0 0 37 3
Colombus Crew (loan) 2016 Major League Soccer 5 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 7 1
Pittsburgh Riverhounds (loan) 2016 Major League Soccer 8 0 0 0 8 0
Colombus Crew 2017 Major League Soccer 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
2018 Major League Soccer 15 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 16 0
Total 22 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 23 0
FC Cincinnati (loan) 2017 Major League Soccer 1 0 0 0 1 0
Chicago Fire 2019–20 Major League Soccer 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Las Vegas Lights (loan) 2020 USL Championship 9 2 0 0 9 2
Recreativo Huelva (loan) 2019–20 Segunda División B 4 0 4 0
Cádiz B 2020–21 Segunda División B 1 0 1 0
Plaza Amador (loan) 2021 Liga Panameña de Fútbol 30 2 0 0 2[a] 0 32 2
Monagas (loan) 2022 Venezuelan Primera División 29 0 2[a] 0 31 0
Plaza Amador 2023 Liga Panameña de Fútbol 4 0 4 0
Najran 2022–23 Saudi First Division League 16 0 0 0 16 0
Al Jandal 2023–24 Saudi First Division League 28 7 28 7
Ironi Kiryat Shmona (loan) 2024–25 Israeli Premier League 10 0 5 0 15 0
Career total 209 15 8 0 4 0 0 0 221 15
  1. ^ a b Appearances in Copa Libertadores

International

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As of match played 18 November 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Panama 2016 2 0
2018 5 0
2021 4 0
2022 12 0
2023 14 0
2024 13 1
Total 50 1

References

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  1. ^ "Columbus Crew SC add to wing depth with Panama teenager Cristian Martinez". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  2. ^ "Crew SC sign Panamanian Cristian Martinez to loan deal". Massive Report. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  3. ^ "Columbus Crew SC vs. Philadelphia Union". ColumbusCrewSC.com. Archived from the original on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  4. ^ "NEWS: Crew SC signs U.S. Youth international Obinwa, completes permanent transfer for Martinez". columbuscrewsc.com. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  5. ^ Kimura, Fumi (5 May 2017). "FCC Signs Crew's Cristian Martinez". FC Cincinnati. Archived from the original on 12 May 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  6. ^ Brennan, Patrick (8 May 2017). "Update on FC Cincinnati's roster". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  7. ^ Crew SC Communications (26 November 2018). "Columbus Crew SC exercises options on contracts of eight players ahead of 2019". ColumbusCrewSC.com. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  8. ^ "Chicago Fire Soccer Club Selects Midfielder Cristian Martínez, Forward Marco Ureña in 2018 MLS Waiver Draft | Chicago Fire FC".
  9. ^ "Lights FC Adds Martinez on Loan from Fire". 23 August 2019.
  10. ^ "أنهت إدارة نادي #نجران إجراءات التعاقد مع المحور البنمي الدولي "كريستيان مارتينيز".
  11. ^ "Cristian Martínez jugará en Arabia Saudita con Najran SC". 20 January 2023.
  12. ^ "LPF: Plaza Amador se refuerza con "Fulo" Cristian Martínez". 26 July 2023.
  13. ^ "الدولي البنمي كريستيان مارتينيز جندلاوي".
  14. ^ Habaz, Tomer (13 July 2024). "קשר נבחרת פנמה חתם בעירוני קריית שמונה" (in Hebrew). ONE. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  15. ^ "Revealed: Every World Cup 2018 squad - Final 23-man lists - Goal.com". www.goal.com.
  16. ^ "Panama's final squad includes 6 MLS players". ESPN.com. 30 May 2018.
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