Josef Martínez has elected not to sign a contract with Atlanta United going into the 2023 season. Martínez, who was a part of the inaugural Atlanta United squad back in 2017, will be leaving the team. Martínez has had a remarkable career in Atlanta including being the all-time goal scorer for the team, he was also the first player in team history to get a hat trick. In his career with Atlanta United he scored 111 goals.

“Martínez hasn’t just been an integral part of Atlanta United for these past couple of seasons. Rather, he has been the heart and soul of our team.” – Kyle Hamm, Atlanta United Mega Fan

2017 was a successful year for both the team and Martínez playing their first season in MLS. Martínez scored 19 goals for Atlanta in 2017. Atlanta United went onto a 15-10-9 record and made the knockout round of the 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs in t

heir first season of play, and their success would not stop there.

2018 was not only the best season for Atlanta United as they would go onto win the 2018 MLS Cup. Martínez thrived in 2018 as well as he would receive numerous awards for his outstanding play including, MLS regular season MVP, MLS All-Star game MVP and the MVP of the 2018 MLS Cup. Martínez also led the league in both goals scored and assists. Martínez was the fastest player in MLS history to reach 100 goals by doing it in only 125 games.

Martínez scored in every contest that he played in 2019, scoring 27 goals and ranking third in MLS goals scored in 2019. In 2020 Atlanta United opened the season on the road against the new Nashville SC team. Martínez played in that game and ended up tearing his ACL. This ended his 2020 campaign and Atlanta United’s season as well. The team would go onto having a 6-4-13 season, which is currently the worst record and season the team has had in its young franchise history.

In 2021 Martínez would come back from injury only appearing in 26 matches for Atlanta United as he was still dealing with knee problems due to his torn ACL. Martínez would lead the team in goals scored for the next two seasons, with 12 goals in 2021, and 9 goals in his final season with the team in 2022.

Atlanta United will have big shoes to fill this season with the team’s all-time leading goal scorer gone. “I cannot stress enough how much he cared about this team and this city. He will forever be the king in Atlanta,” said Hamm.

“Martínez leaving is just truly bizarre. He ‘united’ this team,” said Gavin Willis an avid Atlanta United fan. Martínez who is currently 29 years old, signed a contract last week with MLS team Inter Miami CF for the 2023 season.