Lima scored and assisted in the World Cup, but Manchester United postponed his contract renewal! The defender revealed his injury struggles and once considered retirement

In the World Cup's round of 16, Argentina beat Cape Verde 3-2 in extra time, with Manchester United defender Lisandro Martínez contributing a goal and an assist. He set up Messi's opener and later scored in added time, almost winning the match, but Cape Verde's late equalizer sent the game into extra time. Lima and his squad emerged victorious, defeating the surprise package from Africa by one goal.

After the match, Lima admitted he has been struggling with injuries and even considered retiring last year. "When I suffered a cruciate ligament injury in my knee last year, I kept thinking about whether I should quit football," Lima said. "I just didn't want to suffer anymore, because I had already dealt with foot injuries before, you know? I was really down, but thankfully my daughter was born, which brought balance back to our lives. I saw how my wife gave birth and how hard she worked, so I told myself: how could I not keep fighting?"

Argentina captain Messi confirmed he knew about this: "He told me. I know Lisandro has great affection for me, and so does the whole team. They always say kind things to me, showing their care day after day. Honestly, I am really happy."

Messi continued: "Rather than my goal, I'd rather talk about Lisandro. People often remember goals, but football means so much more than that. Tonight, Lisandro's performance was absolutely brilliant. He defended aggressively, won every duel; whenever Cape Verde tried to attack, he was there to stop them. He also provided me with a wonderful assist. That's what makes him great: he's not only good at defending but also launches attacks with intelligence and courage. Players like him make everyone else's job much easier. Sometimes, the best player on the pitch isn't the one who scores the most, but the one who gives the team confidence from the back, and that was Lisandro tonight."

Lima added: "Whenever I think about the serious injury I suffered, I feel like crying. I don't know where I would be now. If my daughter hadn't been born during my injury, I'm not sure I would still be here competing. And today, I even scored a goal in the World Cup!"

He also spoke about Messi's inspiration to him. "Messi is a perfect role model because he has gone through many tough moments in his career, faced defeats, but never gave up. Now, at 39, he is still giving his all. He has won everything and has nothing left to prove. He is the best player in history, not just in football but across all sports. It's incredible. For those who grew up after him, if the greatest player of all time fights with such passion, how can we not keep pushing? We must follow his footsteps in the same way."

Defensive partner Cristian Romero talked about enjoying playing alongside Lima. "Whenever I play with Licha, defending becomes extremely easy. We have a very harmonious partnership, and I really like it."

Argentina will face Egypt in the round of 16, who have Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah, a rival from Manchester United's arch-enemy. Lima said: "My job is to stop him from performing as he usually does. Salah is a top player, and facing him is really difficult. I will prepare to deal with him, and my teammates will also be ready to stop their attack so we don't concede."

Statistics show that in this tough World Cup battle, Lima had a 98% pass accuracy, sent the ball into the attacking third 21 times, had 74 touches, and defensively made 6 clearances and 4 tackles, making him one of the biggest contributors to Argentina's progression, even though Messi was named official man of the match.

Manchester United are well aware of the abilities of the 28-year-old Lima, but his outstanding World Cup performances may still worry the club. Since moving to Old Trafford, the Argentine defender has been plagued by injuries; due to injuries and suspensions, Martínez has played in less than half of United's total matches.

Lima's contract with Manchester United runs until 2027, and the club is considering whether to offer him a new deal, with negotiations yet to begin. Next season will be a crucial year for Lima. If he cannot prove he can stay fit, Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS management team may not offer a new contract. Although rumors suggest AC Milan's new coach Rúben Amorim is interested in signing him, United has never indicated they are willing to sell Lima this summer.

However, United will also monitor Lima's situation after the tournament. Argentina's schedule is favorable, and they are likely to reach at least the semi-finals, meaning the "Argentine Butcher" may not return to Carrington until at least August. He will miss most of the pre-season training and friendlies, and the fatigue from the World Cup campaign could pose risks to his fitness and injury status next season.