# Ariel Martínez (Cuban footballer)

Ariel Pedro Martinez González (born 9 May 1986) is a Cuban footballer.

## Club career

Following his defection from Cuba to the United States in July 2015, Martínez signed with United Soccer League club Charleston Battery, but was not cleared to play until late in the season due to issues with the processing of his documentation and work permit. Martínez made his only appearance for Charleston in a playoff loss to Louisville City before leaving the club at the end of 2015.
In March 2016, Martínez signed for North American Soccer League side Miami FC ahead of its inaugural season.
Martínez made the move to USL Championship side FC Tulsa on 18 December 2019.
On 19 January 2021, Miami, now competing in the USL Championship, announced Martínez had re-signed with the team for the 2021 season.
On 19 April, 2022, Hartford Athletic announced that they had signed Martínez for the remainder of the 2022 season, pending league and federation approval.
Martínez signed with the Tampa Bay Rowdies on 19 January 2023. Martínez was released by the Rowdies at the end of the 2023 season.
Martinez announced his retirement from the professional game on 15 January 2024.

## International career

Martínez made his debut for Cuba in a September 2006 Gold Cup qualification match against the Turks and Caicos Islands. He was a squad member at the 2007 Gold Cup Finals. He has earned a total of 54 caps, scoring 11 goals, represented his country in 7 FIFA World Cup qualification matches and played at 3 CONCACAF Gold Cup final tournaments.
On 17 July 2015, it was confirmed that Martinez had, alongside teammates Keyler García, Arael Argüelles and Darío Suárez, defected to the United States following Cuba's victory over Guatemala in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

## Statistics
### Career

    As of 10 October 2020.
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National Cup | National Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Charleston Battery | 2015 | USL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Miami FC | 2016 | NASL | 26 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 7 |
| Miami FC | 2017 | NASL | 23 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 3 |
| Miami FC | 2018 | NPSL | 9 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 17 | 4 |
| Miami FC | 2019 | NPSL | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 15 | 10 |
| Miami FC | 2019 | NISA | 6 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 |
| Miami FC | Total | Total | 72 | 15 | 7 | 1 | 13 | 9 | 92 | 25 |
| FC Tulsa | 2020 | USLC | 15 | 2 | - | - | 1 | 0 | 16 | 2 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 87 | 17 | 7 | 1 | 15 | 9 | 109 | 27 |
* ↑ Includes appearances in U.S. Open Cup. Note, both the play-in and first round of the 2018 U.S. Open Cup are missing from Soccerway but are acknowledged by the team.'"`UNIQ--ref-0000002B-QINU`"''"`UNIQ--ref-0000002C-QINU`"'
* ↑ Includes appearances in the league playoffs.

### International goals

    Scores and results list Cuba's goal tally first.
| No | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1. | 4 September 2006 | Estadio Pedro Marrero, La Habana, Cuba | Bahamas | 4–0 | 6–0 | 2007 Caribbean Cup qualification |
| 2. | 6 September 2006 | Estadio Pedro Marrero, La Habana, Cuba | Cayman Islands | 5–0 | 7–0 | 2007 Caribbean Cup qualification |
| 3. | 6 September 2006 | Estadio Pedro Marrero, La Habana, Cuba | Cayman Islands | 4–0 | 7–0 | 2007 Caribbean Cup qualification |
| 4. | 14 November 2012 | Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, Trinidad and Tobago | Suriname | 3–0 | 5–0 | 2012 Caribbean Cup qualification |
| 5. | 10 December 2012 | Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda | French Guiana | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2012 Caribbean Cup |
| 6. | 10 December 2012 | Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda | French Guiana | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2012 Caribbean Cup |
| 7. | 16 July 2013 | Rentschler Field, East Hartford, United States | Belize | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| 8. | 16 July 2013 | Rentschler Field, East Hartford, United States | Belize | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| 9. | 16 July 2013 | Rentschler Field, East Hartford, United States | Belize | 3–0 | 4–0 | 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| 10. | 11 November 2014 | Montego Bay Sports Complex, Montego Bay, Jamaica | French Guiana | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2014 Caribbean Cup |
| 11. | 18 November 2014 | Montego Bay Sports Complex, Montego Bay, Jamaica | Haiti | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2014 Caribbean Cup |