The Atlanta United star suffered a torn ACL in his side’s MLS season-opener.
Josef Martinez announced on Wednesday that he has undergone successful surgery after tearing his ACL during Atlanta United’s season-opener against Nashville SC.
On Wednesday, Martinez failed the surgery to fix that torn ligament under the care of Dr. Volker Musahl and Dr. Freddie Fu, the latter of whom had been imputed as the guy accountable for rescuing Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s career after a similar injury suffered while the Swedish star was with Manchester United.
Martinez, the 2018 MLS MVP, was in solid form to begin the season, having bagged two goals in a two-legged victory over Honduran club Motagua at the opening round of the Concacaf Champions League before suffering the injury from Atlanta’s 2-1 win over Nashville in the season-opening match.
The Venezuelan forward is expected to miss most of, if not all, the MLS season, even though the league’s suspension on account of the coronavirus could bring about a late-season yield for the forwards.
Until then, however, he will have a very long road back as he thanked physicians, fans, and teammates in the wake of his surgery.
“In the middle of the humanitarian crisis we are all living through, where more than ever we will need to consider and look after one another, just wanted to share that I am blessed that my knee surgery today went well,” he said in a statement on Instagram.
“I need to personally thank UPMC in Pittsburgh, physicians Freddie Fu and Volker Musahl, Atlanta United, my teammates and most of all of the city of Atlanta for the unconditional support. Additionally, everyone in Venezuela and around the world for the good wishes and support. God bless and protect us in these challenging times.”
Martinez has been among the most dominant goalscorers in league history since signing with Atlanta during the club’s expansion season.
He broke the league record for goals in a season with his 31-goal haul in 2018, although that record has since been topped by Carlos Vela.
Martinez scored 77 goals in 84 MLS matches, including 27 goals in 29 games last effort.
After Martinez’s injury, Atlanta United played two matches: a 2-1 win over FC Cincinnati in MLS play along with a 3-0 loss to Club America in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions League quarterfinal clash.
