David Martínez (footballer, born 2006)

David Martínez
Personal information
Full name	David Enmanuel Martínez Morales
Date of birth	7 February 2006 (age 18)
Place of birth	El Tigre, Venezuela
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Los Angeles FC
Number	30
Youth career
	Monagas
Senior career*
Years	Team
2022–2023	Monagas
2024–	Los Angeles FC
International career‡
2023	Venezuela U17
2023–	Venezuela U20
2024–	Venezuela U23
2023–	Venezuela
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:37, 29 January 2024 (UTC); ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:37, 29 January 2024 (UTC)

David Enmanuel Martínez Morales (born 7 February 2006) is a Venezuelan footballer who plays as a forward for Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer.

Early life

Martínez was born in El Tigre in the state of Anzoátegui, but was raised in San José de Guanipa, also in Anzoátegui, but closer to the state of Monagas.^[2]

Club career

Martínez featured for Tigre in a youth tournament in Puerto Ordaz, where he played against the 2005 category of professional side Monagas, despite being a year younger.^[2] These performances caught the eye of the Venezuelan Football Federation's technical director of development, Daniel Cesca, and contact was made with Tigre in 2017, with Martínez beginning to train with Monagas two times a week, while officially representing Tigre.^[2] He went on to join Monagas permanently the following year.^[2]

Having progressed through Monagas' academy, Martínez made his league debut in the 2022 season, coming on as a second-half substitute for Edgar Carrión in a 3–1 win against Mineros de Guayana. In only his fifth game for the club, he scored a long-range effort in a 2–0 win against Zulia.^[3]^[4]

On 11 October 2023, he was named by English newspaper The Guardian as one of the best players born in 2006 worldwide.^[5]

On 1 February 2024, he joined Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer.^[6]

International career

In January 2023, he was called up to the Venezuela under-20 squad for the 2023 South American U-20 Championship, where Venezuela finished fifth.^[7]

Martínez was called up to captain the Venezuela under-17 squad at the 2023 South American U-17 Championship.^[8] He starred at the competition, scoring in Venezuela's first three games, before going on to score in a 2–0 win against Paraguay in the final phase to send Venezuela to the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup.^[9] For his performances, he was lauded as Venezuela's star player at the tournament. Martinez has also played for the Venezuela under-23 football team.^[10]^[11]

He was called up to the Venezuela senior squad for the first time in April 2022.^[12]

Personal life

Martínez' brother, Estéban, is also a professional footballer, and currently plays as a defender for Monagas.^[2]

Career statistics

Club

As of 26 April 2023^[13]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Monagas	2022	Venezuelan Primera División	26	4	0	0	2^[a]	0	0	0	28	4
Monagas	2023	Venezuelan Primera División	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
Career total			28	4	0	0	2	0	0	0	30	4

^ Appearances in the Copa Libertadores

References

^ ^a ^b ^c David Martínez at WorldFootball.net
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Delgado, Christian (11 April 2023). "David "La Joya" Martínez: del Tigrito a brillar con la Vinotinto" [David "La Joya" Martínez: from Tigrito to shine with Vinotinto]. elestimulo.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 April 2023.
^ "David Martínez continúa creciendo a paso firme en las juveniles de la Vinotinto" [David Martínez continues to grow steadily in the Vinotinto youth team]. onefootball.com (in Spanish). 1 April 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
^ "La "joya" David Martínez volvió a facturar para Monagas a sus 16 años" [The "jewel" David Martínez billed again for Monagas at the age of 16]. ligafutve.org (in Spanish). 16 May 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
^ Christenson, Marcus; Bloor, Steven; Blight, Garry (11 October 2023). "Next Generation 2023: 60 of the best young talents in world football". theguardian.com. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
^ https://www.lafc.com/news/lafc-acquires-forward-david-martinez-from-venezuelan-club-monagas-sc
^ Carnevali, Jesús (23 January 2023). "La Vinotinto Sub 20 dio a conocer su lista de convocados" [The Vinotinto Sub 20 announced its squad list]. lahienasport.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 April 2023.
^ Rodriguez, Jhosep (20 March 2023). "David Martínez liderará Vinotinto sub-17" [David Martínez will lead Vinotinto sub-17]. elorientaldemonagas.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 April 2023.
^ "Los destacados de David Martínez en el Suramericano" [The highlights of David Martínez in the South American]. panorama.com.ve (in Spanish). 26 April 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
^ Gil, Manuel (24 April 2023). "David Martínez: "La gente piensa que por ser Venezuela, seremos un rival fácil" (+Declaraciones)" [David Martínez: "People think that because it is Venezuela, we will be an easy rival" (+ Statements)]. meridiano.net (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 April 2023.
^ Saber, Fabiola (25 April 2023). "David Martínez among the best in South America". en.liderendeportes.com. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
^ "La Vinotinto convocó módulo de trabajo en Margarita hasta el jueves" [La Vinotinto convened a work module in Margarita until Thursday]. lavinotinto.com (in Spanish). 17 April 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
^ David Martínez at Soccerway

External links

[CL-14] Appearances in the Copa Libertadores

[wf-1] David Martínez at WorldFootball.net

[ee-2] Delgado, Christian (11 April 2023). "David "La Joya" Martínez: del Tigrito a brillar con la Vinotinto" [David "La Joya" Martínez: from Tigrito to shine with Vinotinto]. elestimulo.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 April 2023.

[3] "David Martínez continúa creciendo a paso firme en las juveniles de la Vinotinto" [David Martínez continues to grow steadily in the Vinotinto youth team]. onefootball.com (in Spanish). 1 April 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.

[4] "La "joya" David Martínez volvió a facturar para Monagas a sus 16 años" [The "jewel" David Martínez billed again for Monagas at the age of 16]. ligafutve.org (in Spanish). 16 May 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2023.

[5] Christenson, Marcus; Bloor, Steven; Blight, Garry (11 October 2023). "Next Generation 2023: 60 of the best young talents in world football". theguardian.com. Retrieved 11 October 2023.

[6] ttps://www.lafc.com/news/lafc-acquires-forward-david-martinez-from-venezuelan-club-monagas-sc

[7] Carnevali, Jesús (23 January 2023). "La Vinotinto Sub 20 dio a conocer su lista de convocados" [The Vinotinto Sub 20 announced its squad list]. lahienasport.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 April 2023.

[8] Rodriguez, Jhosep (20 March 2023). "David Martínez liderará Vinotinto sub-17" [David Martínez will lead Vinotinto sub-17]. elorientaldemonagas.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 April 2023.

[9] "Los destacados de David Martínez en el Suramericano" [The highlights of David Martínez in the South American]. panorama.com.ve (in Spanish). 26 April 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.

[10] Gil, Manuel (24 April 2023). "David Martínez: "La gente piensa que por ser Venezuela, seremos un rival fácil" (+Declaraciones)" [David Martínez: "People think that because it is Venezuela, we will be an easy rival" (+ Statements)]. meridiano.net (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 April 2023.

[11] Saber, Fabiola (25 April 2023). "David Martínez among the best in South America". en.liderendeportes.com. Retrieved 26 April 2023.

[12] "La Vinotinto convocó módulo de trabajo en Margarita hasta el jueves" [La Vinotinto convened a work module in Margarita until Thursday]. lavinotinto.com (in Spanish). 17 April 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2023.

[13] David Martínez at Soccerway

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