Star Martinez has surgery to repair injured right knee
♦ The elite scorer says he’s doing well after the procedure with a top orthopedic doctor.
star went Wednesday, than he ing match update ATLANTA Martinez tore the Josef surgery two page league-opening at the on weeks Nashville. Martinez his ACL posted — after on Atlanta Instagram more his after dur- the an right under- United knee operation of thumbs-up bed Pittsburgh was Center. alongside smiling at The University as he one Medical striker and posed of giving his in physicians, his a Pittsburgh-based Also was performing Dr. Dr. Volker Freddie orthopedic Musahl. the Fu, surgery the specialist saving Zlatan Ibrahimovic ca- who was hailed for reer after knee the ligaments star striker in 2017. ruptured
29 Martinez in a 2-1 victory was injured over Nashville Feb. to open the Major League Soccer season. He is expected to be out for much of he year, though the season is now on hold because of the new coronavirus outbreak.
“In the midst of the humanitarian crisis we are all living through, in which more than ever we need to think about and take care of each other, just wanted to share that I’m blessed that my knee surgery today went well,” Martinez wrote.
The 26-year-old Venezuelan went on to thank the hospital, his doctors, his teammates “and most of all the city of Atlanta for the unconditional support. Also, everyone in Venezuela and around the world for the good wishes and support. God bless and protect us all in these challenging times.”
Martinez, the league’s 2018 MVP and one of its most dynamic offensive players, scored two goals in a two-legged victory over Honduran club Motagua in the opening round of the CONCACAF Champions League.
After he was injured, United played two more games — a 2-1 victory over Cincinnati in the MLS home opener and a 3-0 loss at Mexican powerhouse América in the opening leg of the CONCACAF quarterfinals — before all competitions were halted for at least a month in an effort to stem the virus from spreading.
It could take up to six months for Martinez to recover from his injury, which means he might be able to return before the end of the season.