Ariel Martínez

Ariel Pedro Martinez González (born 9 May 1986) is a Cuban footballer who currently plays for FC Tulsa in the USL Championship.

Not to be confused with Ariel Martínez (Chilean footballer).

Ariel Martínez
Personal information
Full name Ariel Pedro Martínez González
Date of birth (1986-05-09) 9 May 1986
Place of birth Sancti Spíritus, Cuba
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Playing position(s) Striker
Club information
Current team
 FC Tulsa
Number 6
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2015 Sancti Spíritus
2015 Charleston Battery 0 (0)
2016–2019 Miami FC 72 (15)
2020– FC Tulsa 0 (0)
National team‡
2006–2015 Cuba 54 (11)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 9 November 2019
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 19 July 2015
This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Martinez and the second or maternal family name is González.

Club career

Following his defection Martínez signed with United Soccer League club Charleston Battery,[1] 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 Miami FC.[2]

Martínez made the move to USL Championship side FC Tulsa on 18 December 2019.[3]

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.[4] He has earned a total of 54 caps, scoring 11 goals,[5] represented his country in 7 FIFA World Cup qualification matches[6] 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.[7]

International goals
Scores and results list Cuba's goal tally first.[8]
NoDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.4 September 2006Estadio Pedro Marrero, La Habana, Cuba Bahamas
4–0
6–0
2007 Caribbean Cup qualification
2.6 September 2006 Cayman Islands
5–0
7–0
3.
4–0
4.14 November 2012Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, Trinidad and Tobago Suriname
3–0
5–0
2012 Caribbean Cup qualification
5.10 December 2012Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda French Guiana
1–0
2–0
2012 Caribbean Cup
6.
2–0
7.16 July 2013Rentschler Field, East Hartford, United States Belize
1–0
4–0
2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup
8.
2–0
9.
3–0
10.11 November 2014Montego Bay Sports Complex, Montego Bay, Jamaica French Guiana
1–0
1–1
2014 Caribbean Cup
11.18 November 2014 Haiti
1–2
1–2

References
  1. "Battery sign Cuban star striker – and defector – Ariel Martinez". ABC. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. "CUBAN NATIONAL ARIEL MARTINEZ JOINS MIAMI FC ROSTER". miamifc.com. Miami FC. 12 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  3. "FC Tulsa Signs Two Former Cuba National Team Forwards". fctulsa.com. FC Tulsa. 17 December 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  4. CONCACAF Championship, Gold Cup 2007 – Full Details – RSSSF
  5. "Appearances for Cuba National Team". RSSSF.
  6. Ariel Martínez – FIFA competition record
  7. Staff, MLSsoccer. "Gold Cup: Striker Ariel Martinez becomes the fourth player to defect from Cuba". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  8. "Martínez, Ariel". National Football Teams. Retrieved 30 November 2017.


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