Lisandro Martinez says Lionel Messi is a leader, talks about Copa America, Olympics

By
Roy Nemer
-
22

Lisandro Martinez recently spoke about the Argentina national team, Lionel Messi, the Copa America and the Olympics.

Martinez has started for Ajax in their last five league matches and eight of the last nine as he has played 90 minutes in most of those games. Enjoying a good run of games could get him included into the Argentina team for the upcoming Copa America.

Having made his debut in March of 2019 in a friendly match vs. Venezuela, the 23 year old defender managed to get some minutes alongside captain Lionel Messi. Speaking in an interview with EFE, here’s what he had to say about Messi:

“He’s a born leader. We can’t have him for 100 years but the years that he could be with the Argentina national team, we have to try and enjoy him as much as we can. It’s very nice observing him playing, how he sees things differently, how he anticipates the plays. No doubt it’s a question of watching him and observing because he’s incredible.”

Regarding the upcoming Copa America and the Argentina national team, Lisandro had this to say:

“If I’m called up to the Copa America, I’ll be very happy and if I’m called to the Olympic games, I’ll be just as happy. Representing the Argentina national team, no matter the spot, brings a lot of satisfaction.

“One has to be playing with his team, doing things well and from there showing a high level because the Argentina national team is full of good players.”

He has only played one match with Argentina and that was the 3-1 loss vs. Venezuela two years ago. He missed out on the 2019 Copa America and hasn’t featured in the World Cup qualifiers.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

22 Comments

  1. as per given sports rating for this season five Argentina players are selected.
    1.Emi Martinez (7.01 highest in the goal keeper position in Europe)
    2.Christian Romero ( 7.24 second best rating as center back)
    3.Rodrigo De Paul ( 7.46 highest rating in the midfield)
    4. Angel Di Maria ( 7.36 Ranked fourth in left wing position)
    5. Lionel Messi (8.59 highest ofplayers in terms of ranking score and highest in the attacking midfield position)

    https://www.givemesport.com/1666326-ronaldo-messi-zlatan-the-five-best-players-in-europe-this-season-for-every-position

  2. Hopefully batista will know how poor the team is . if the clubs don’t allow player to join the u23 .The Olympics is over.

    few things to notice ,
    1 Vargas hasn’t improved when come to Spain. He is a very normal ,average player. doesn’t have the quality to be national player not to mention number 10.
    2 we don’t need short slim slow player anymore.

  3. First find a goalkeeper who is good with his feet Andrada or even Rulli is better option than Ledesma, second not choose random primera players or european underperformers (Vargas, Valenzuela, Colombatto, maybe even Ascacibar etc.) call only the biggest talents who are available: Andrada or Rulli/Lautaro Morales/Blazquez—Facundo Medina/Claudio Bravo/Francisco Ortega—Lisandro Martinez/Senesi/Valenti—Nehuen Perez/Balerdi/Frias—Nahuel Molina/Alex Vigo/Marcelo Herrera—Fausto Vera/David Ayala/Ascacibar—Macallister/Payero/Matias Palacios—Zaracho/Galoppo/Capaldo—Thiago Almada/Barco/Alan Velasco—Gaich/Ponce/Mierez (best striker in croatian league)—Buendia (OA), De la Vega, Julian Alvarez. I dont count the impossible options: C. Romero, Foyth, Montiel, E. Palacios, N. Dominguez (maybe one of them wont be there on Copa, so avalaible), Nicolas Gonzalez, Lautaro.

    • true that . Should have best available players ( outside Copa 23 man squad ) & for sure we need the 3 overage players picked. AFA has to bully/ coax clubs to release key players. The only players from this friendly match squad i wish to see in Olympics team is Gaich, N Perez , Ledesma & Carlos Valenzuela . Frankly Ledesma will be better to Morales & Blazquez & i dont think Andrada / Ruili will make so much difference . Ledesma is performing well at la liga. Maybe we should just continue with him instead of more changes. If change is being done – Marchesin can be a good option as he is in great form & has good penalty shoot out exposure. Ruili is hardly getting minutes .
      Key is also having some fast full backs who can bring width . We just couldnt attack through flanks & were so predictable.

  9. Probable line up vs Japan in today’s match:-

    Jeremías Ledesma; Kevin Mac Allister, Nehuén Pérez, Bruno Amione, Alexander Bernabéi; Lucas González, Santiago Hezze; Fernando Valenzuela, Matías Vargas, Juan Brunetta; and Adolfo Gaich.

Comments are closed.