Atlanta United have suffered a major blow to their 2020 hopes just one week into the season with the club announcing on Sunday that 2018 MLS Golden Boot winner Josef Martinez suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament injury in his right knee during Saturday's match against Nashville SC.
Martinez went down in the 63rd minute of the club's season opener in Nashville. While he initially tried to stay on the field, he was soon forced off and was later seen leaving the stadium on crutches.
Atlanta added that Martinez will undergo surgery at a later date yet to be determined.
Martinez has been a revelation since signing for Atlanta in 2017, netting 82 goals in 93 MLS appearances. Following Saturday's game, Atlanta coach Frank de Boer said that should Martinez miss a significant amount of time he would ask the club to sign a striker. Currently, Adam Jahn is the only other striker on the Atlanta United roster.
