Cristian Martínez (Panamanian footballer)

Cristian Jesús Martínez (born 6 February 1997) is a Panamanian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Israeli Premier League club Ironi Kiryat Shmona and the Panama national team.

Cristian Martínez

Martínez with Panama in 2024
Personal information
Full name	Cristian Jesús Martínez
Date of birth	(1997-02-06) 6 February 1997 (age 28)
Place of birth	Panama City, Panama
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Ironi Kiryat Shmona
Youth career
2005–2013	Chorrillo
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2013–2017	Chorrillo	37	(3)
2016	→ Columbus Crew (loan)	5	(1)
2016	→ Pittsburgh Riverhounds (loan)	8	(0)
2017–2018	Columbus Crew	22	(0)
2017	→ FC Cincinnati (loan)	1	(0)
2019	Chicago Fire	5	(0)
2019	→ Las Vegas Lights (loan)	9	(2)
2020–2023	Cádiz B	1	(0)
2020	→ Recreativo de Huelva (loan)	4	(0)
2021	→ Plaza Amador (loan)	30	(2)
2022–2023	→ Monagas (loan)	29	(0)
2023	Najran	16	(0)
2023–2025	Plaza Amador	4	(0)
2023–2024	→ Al-Jandal (loan)	28	(7)
2024–2025	→ Ironi Kiryat Shmona (loan)	33	(1)
2025–	Ironi Kiryat Shmona	0	(0)
International career‡
2017	Panama U20	5	(0)
2016–	Panama	56	(2)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Panama CONCACAF Gold Cup Runner-up 2023 United States–Canada Team CONCACAF Nations League Runner-up 2025 United States Team
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 19:25, 10 May 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 23:17, 28 June 2025 (UTC)

Club career

Chorrillo

Martínez joined the youth team of his local side Chorrillo at the age of 8, eventually joining the club's first team in 2012.

Columbus Crew

Martínez signed on loan with Major League Soccer side Columbus Crew on 17 May 2016.^[1][2] Martínez made his MLS debut on June 1, 2016, coming on as a substitute in a 3-2 loss to Philadelphia Union. He scored in the 90+3', becoming the youngest Crew SC goal scorer in a regular-season match in club history.^[3] Martínez would be loaned by Crew SC to Pittsburgh Riverhounds, the club's USL affiliate. He made his Riverhounds debut against FC Montreal on August 10, 2016. Crew SC would recall Martínez for two more appearances at the end of the MLS season. On January 25, 2017 Martínez was acquired on a permanent transfer.^[4] On May 4, 2017, Martínez was loaned to United Soccer League club FC Cincinnati.^[5] He played in one game before returning to Columbus Crew on May 8.^[6]

The club declined Martinez's contract option following the 2018 season, ending his time in Columbus after three years, 31 total appearances, and three goals.^[7]

Chicago Fire

On 12 December 2018, Martínez was selected by Chicago Fire in the MLS Waiver Draft.^[8]

On 24 August 2019, Martínez joined USL Championship side Las Vegas Lights on loan for the remainder of the season.^[9]

Cádiz

On January 18, 2020, Cádiz CF announced his signing until 2022 and that he would be loaned to a Segunda División B team. On January 24 it was made official that that team would be Recreativo de Huelva.

On January 30, 2021, Cádiz CF announced his six-month loan to CD Plaza Amador of Panama.

Najran

On 20 January 2023, Martínez joined Saudi Arabian club Najran.^[10][11]

Plaza Amador

On 26 July 2023, Martínez joined Plaza Amador.^[12]

Al-Jandal

On 16 September 2023, Martínez joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Jandal.^[13]

Ironi Kiryat Shmona

On 13 July 2024 signed for the Israeli club Ironi Kiryat Shmona.^[14]

International career

In May 2018 he was named in Panama's preliminary 35 man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.^[15] However, he did not make the final 23.^[16]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 10 May 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Chorrillo	2013–14	Liga Panameña de Fútbol	5	0	0	0	—		—		5	0
	2014–15	Liga Panameña de Fútbol	1	0	0	0	—		—		1	0
	2015–16	Liga Panameña de Fútbol	31	3	0	0	—		—		31	3
	Total		37	3	0	0	—		—		37	3
Colombus Crew (loan)	2016	Major League Soccer	5	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	7	1
Pittsburgh Riverhounds (loan)	2016	Major League Soccer	8	0	0	0	—		—		8	0
Colombus Crew	2017	Major League Soccer	8	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	8	0
	2018	Major League Soccer	15	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	16	0
	Total		22	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	23	0
FC Cincinnati (loan)	2017	Major League Soccer	1	0	0	0	—		—		1	0
Chicago Fire	2019–20	Major League Soccer	5	0	0	0	—		0	0	5	0
Las Vegas Lights (loan)	2020	USL Championship	9	2	0	0	—		—		9	2
Recreativo Huelva (loan)	2019–20	Segunda División B	4	0	—		—		—		4	0
Cádiz B	2020–21	Segunda División B	1	0	—		—		—		1	0
Plaza Amador (loan)	2021	Liga Panameña de Fútbol	30	2	0	0	2[a]	0	—		32	2
Monagas (loan)	2022	Venezuelan Primera División	29	0	—		2[a]	0	—		31	0
Plaza Amador	2023	Liga Panameña de Fútbol	4	0	—		—		—		4	0
Najran	2022–23	Saudi First Division League	16	0	0	0	—		—		16	0
Al Jandal	2023–24	Saudi First Division League	28	7	—		—		—		28	7
Ironi Kiryat Shmona (loan)	2024–25	Israeli Premier League	33	1	1	0	—		5[b]	0	40	1
Ironi Kiryat Shmona	2025–26	Israeli Premier League	0	0	0	0	—		0	0	0	0
Career total			233	16	4	0	4	0	5	0	246	16

1. Appearances in Copa Libertadores
2. Appearance in Israel State Cup

International

As of match played 28 June 2025

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Panama	2016	2	0
	2018	5	0
	2021	4	0
	2022	12	0
	2023	14	0
	2024	13	1
	2025	7	1
Total		57	2

International goals

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	6 June 2024	Estadio Rommel Fernández, Panama City, Panama	Guyana	1–0	2–0	2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
2.	16 June 2025	Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, United States	Guadeloupe	1–0	5–2	2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup

Honours

Panama

• CONCACAF Gold Cup runner-up: 2023^[17]
• CONCACAF Nations League runner-up: 2024–25^[18]