With seven goals in five matches, Atlanta United’s Josef Martinez has been voted the MLS Player of the Month presented by EA SPORTS by members of the media for the month of July.
The reigning MLS MVP and Golden Boot holder has netted 18 goals thus far this season, second-most in the league, to go along with two assists. Martinez has also scored in nine straight matches, tying his own MLS record set last season, which is shared with Diego Valeri. His scoring has been a huge ingredient in Atlanta’s climb to second place in the Eastern Conference with 37 points (12-9-3 overall record).
As part of every MLS Player of the Month award this season, EA SPORTS FIFA 19 will release a special FUT (FIFA Ultimate Team) item to honor the winning player, this month recognizing Martinez for this tremendous July performance. Josef can be unlocked via a special Squad Building Challenge now live in FIFA 19 Ultimate Team.
Martinez’s month is all the more impressive given that he missed Atlanta’s first match of July, a 5-1 thrashing at Chicago, while playing at the 2019 Copa América with Venezuela. Upon his return, he bagged a brace in a wild 3-3 draw against the New York Red Bulls on July 7, then struck again in a 2-1 July 14 loss at Seattle Sounders FC.
The 26-year-old scored goals in the 60th minute and 79th minute in a 5-0 rout of the Houston Dynamo on July 17 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. He also helped beat D.C. United 2-0 at home on July 21 with a goal in second-half stoppage time, before rounding out the month with yet another tally in a 4-3 loss at LAFC on July 26.
Atlanta face Orlando City SC in a U.S. Open Cup semifinal Tuesday night (7:30 pm ET | ESPN+) at Exploria Stadium before returning to MLS play with a visit from New York City FC at MBS on Sunday (4 pm ET |ESPN in US, MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada).
MLS Player of the Month is voted upon by a panel of select national media members in a process conducted by MLS Communications.
