Ariel Martínez (Cuban footballer)
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ariel Pedro Martínez González | ||
| Date of birth | 9 May 1986 | ||
| Place of birth | Sancti Spíritus, Cuba | ||
| Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in) | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005–2015 | Sancti Spíritus | ||
| 2015 | Charleston Battery | 0 | (0) |
| 2016–2019 | Miami FC | 72 | (15) |
| 2020 | FC Tulsa | 15 | (2) |
| 2021 | Miami FC | 29 | (6) |
| 2022 | Hartford Athletic | 22 | (9) |
| 2023 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 20 | (2) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2006–2015 | Cuba | 54 | (11) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2024 | Miami FC (assistant) | ||
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20 March 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 19 July 2015 | |||
Ariel Pedro Martinez González (born 9 May 1986) is a former Cuban footballer.
Following his defection from Cuba to the United States in July 2015,[1][2] Martínez signed with United Soccer League club Charleston Battery,[2] but was not cleared to play until late in the season due to issues with the processing of his documentation and work permit. Martínez made his only appearance for Charleston in a playoff loss to Louisville City before leaving the club at the end of 2015.
In March 2016, Martínez signed for North American Soccer League side Miami FC ahead of its inaugural season.[3]
Martínez made the move to USL Championship side FC Tulsa on 18 December 2019.[4]
On 19 January 2021, Miami, now competing in the USL Championship, announced Martínez had re-signed with the team for the 2021 season.[5]
On 19 April, 2022, Hartford Athletic announced that they had signed Martínez for the remainder of the 2022 season, pending league and federation approval. [6]
Martínez signed with the Tampa Bay Rowdies on 19 January 2023.[7] Martínez was released by the Rowdies at the end of the 2023 season.[8]
Martínez announced his retirement from the professional game on 15 January 2024.[9]
International career
Martínez made his debut for Cuba in a September 2006 Gold Cup qualification match against the Turks and Caicos Islands. He was a squad member at the 2007 Gold Cup Finals.[10] He has earned a total of 54 caps, scoring 11 goals,[11] represented his country in 7 FIFA World Cup qualification matches[12] and played at 3 CONCACAF Gold Cup final tournaments.
On 17 July 2015, it was confirmed that Martinez had, alongside teammates Keyler García, Arael Argüelles and Darío Suárez, defected to the United States following Cuba's victory over Guatemala in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.[1]
