Tomas Martinez

Contract option declined on Dec. 1, 2020

Martinez is a young playmaker with skill and technical abilities to be a mainstay in Houston's starting lineup for years to come. A key piece to the Dynamo's attack, the Argentine had five goals and three assists while earning the start in 30 of his 33 appearances in 2019.

• HoustonDynamo.com: Martinez' profile

INTERNATIONAL: Martínez has represented his home country at the international level in multiple youth tournaments. Wearing the No. 10 shirt for Los Albicelestes, he played an integral role for Argentina’s Under-20 team as they won the 2015 South American Youth Football Championship and earned a spot in the 2015 U-20 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Sumer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Martínez played in 10 games for the Argentinian U-20s, starting all 10, and scored one goal while providing five assists. In the 2015 South American U-20 Championship, he started seven of Argentina’s nine games and provided a goal and four assists. He started all three of Los Albicelestes’ matches in the 2015 U-20 World Cup in New Zealand and delivered one assist.

OUTSIDE MLS: A native of Béccar, Argentina, Martínez joined the youth academy at legendary Argentinian club River Plate at age six. He made his professional debut with River Plate on April 24, 2013 at 18 years of age when he came in as substitute for current FC Dallas midfielder Mauro Diaz against Estudiantes Buenos Aires. Martínez moved to Sporting Braga in the Portuguese Primeira Liga on a full transfer prior to the start of the 2016-17 season and made 15 appearances across all competitions for the club and scored three goals and had one assist. During his time with River Plate, Martínez won the 2013-14 Copa Sudamericana, the club’s first international title in 17 years. Martínez made 18 appearances with four assists for River from 2013-16, while also spending time on loan spells with Spanish club Tenerife from 2015-16 and Argentina’s Defensa y Justica in 2016. He made 13 appearances with one assist for Tenerife and appeared 14 times with three goals and two assists for Defensa y Justica.