From Atlanta to Miami to San Jose, Josef Martínez has had a fascinating journey in MLS. We trace his career path and highlight his achievements, including his recent hat-trick for the Earthquakes.
In his latest game, he scored three goals, and his new team, San José Earthquakes, prevailed 6-1 over DC United. Josef Martínez, the Venezuelan striker who is playing his first season with the California team, uncovered himself with a hat-trick and increased his account in the list of historical goalscorers of the MLS, to reach 120 in the regular season and 127 taking into account the Playoffs.
The 31-year-old attacker occupies sixth place in the top of top scorers in the American league (only regular season), and the second South American with the most goals in the tournament, only behind the Bolivian, Jaime Moreno, who registers 133 goals, 13 more than the player originating from the city of Valencia, Venezuela.
Top 10 All-Time Goalscorers in MLS
- Chris Wondolowski 169
- Kei Kamara 146
- Landon Donovan 145
- Jeff Cunningham 134
- Jaime Moreno 133
- Josef Martínez 120
- Bradley Wright-Phillips 114
- Ante Razov 114
- Jason Kreis 108
- Dwayne de Rosario 104
Martínez’s journey to MLS
Josef Martínez landed in MLS in the 2017 season for Atlanta United from Torino FC. After seven seasons in Europe, he returned to the Continent to wear the Atlanta jersey, a team with which, from the hand of Tata Martino, he began to shine, was a scoring champion imposing a record and a league champion.
Time with Inter Miami and Messi
After six seasons and 103 goals, in 2023 he left United and signed with Inter de Miami, sharing a locker room with Lionel Messi. He did not do well in that campaign, he only scored seven goals and in the following year he left to join the ranks of the Montreal Impact.
With the Canadian team he added another 11 goals. One campaign and he changed airs again, this time in California to join the San José Earthquakes, a team with which he already registers four annotations in six games, highlighting the hat-trick last Sunday against DC United.
