Cristian Martinez Named Man of the Match in Panama's Loss to Croatia

Panama midfielder Cristian Martinez, who plays for Kiryat Shmona, was named man of the match after his side's 1-0 loss to Croatia overnight Wednesday to Thursday in the 2026 World Cup. The recognition came a day after another Israel Premier League player, Helio Varela, became the first league player since Moti Spiegler to score in a World Cup, in Cape Verde's 2-2 draw with Uruguay.

Martinez played a full 90 minutes for Panama for the first time since 2018. Operating on the wing, he completed 24 of 34 passes, drew three fouls, won five of eight duels against Croatia's physical midfield, including Luka Modric, and recorded two clearances and four recoveries.

Panama has now lost its chance to advance, with one group match left against England. Supporters and journalists in the Latin American world praised Martinez's performance. On the Cronica Alvinegra fan account, he was called "a great player" who "was everywhere on the pitch," with one remark adding that it is remarkable he plays for Kiryat Shmona. Panamanian journalist Leonardo Aguiar said, "He should not waste another second in Israel. He is at his peak, and he deserves to play in a better league."