Alonso Martínez Bio
Adrián Alonso Martínez Batista, known professionally as Alonso Martínez, is a Costa Rican professional footballer born on 15 October 1998 in Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Standing 177 cm tall, he operates primarily as a winger or forward and currently represents Major League Soccer club New York City FC. He is also a senior international with the Costa Rica national team, having represented his country across multiple age levels.
After beginning his senior career in his home country, Martínez moved to Europe with Belgian side Lommel before returning to North America to join New York City FC. He emerged as a key attacking player for the MLS side, and his 2024 season marked a turning point in his professional trajectory, drawing league-wide attention for his goal-scoring output.
Early Life and Background
Adrián Alonso Martínez Batista was born on 15 October 1998 in Puntarenas, a Pacific-coast city in Costa Rica. Growing up in a country where football is the dominant sport, he was exposed to the game from an early age, joining local youth setups in the Puntarenas region and developing through community-based football programs. The Puntarenas area has a strong tradition of producing players who progress into the top flight of Costa Rican football.
His hometown roots shaped his identity as a player, and his early footballing development was tied to the local clubs of the region. By his mid-teens, he had attracted attention from bigger clubs in Costa Rica’s top division, eventually earning a pathway into professional football. The combination of street-football instincts and structured academy training gave Martínez a foundation that supported his transition to senior-level competition.
Path to Soccer
Martínez began his senior career with his hometown club Puntarenas in 2015, where he made his professional debut in the Costa Rican Primera División. After one season, he moved to Liga Deportiva Alajuelense, one of the most successful clubs in Costa Rica, in 2016. To gain regular playing time, he was loaned to COFUTPA in 2017 and then to Guadalupe in 2018, where he accumulated valuable first-team minutes and refined his attacking game.
He returned to Alajuelense from his loan spells and re-established himself in the squad, eventually earning a senior international call-up. His performances in Costa Rica attracted attention from clubs abroad, leading to a five-year move to Belgian First Division B side Lommel in August 2021. The Belgian stint allowed him to test himself in European football before ultimately taking his game to Major League Soccer.
Alonso Martínez Career
Early Career (2015–2020)
Martínez started his professional career at Puntarenas in 2015 before transferring to Alajuelense the following year. To accelerate his development, Alajuelense sent him out on loan to COFUTPA in 2017 and then to Guadalupe in 2018, where he logged consistent senior minutes. These developmental loans were central to his growth, helping him adapt to the physical and tactical demands of regular top-flight football in Costa Rica.
He returned to Alajuelense with stronger credentials and began contributing more regularly to the first team. His progression through Costa Rica’s most competitive environment prepared him for the international stage, and he was called up to the senior Costa Rica national team in 2021 ahead of the CONCACAF Nations League Finals.
Lommel Era (2021–2023)
On 18 August 2021, Martínez joined Belgian First Division B club Lommel on a five-year deal, although he was loaned back to Alajuelense for the remainder of the 2021 calendar year. The move to Belgium represented his first professional contract outside of Costa Rica, and it offered him the opportunity to compete in a European league with a different tactical and physical profile.
During his time in Belgium, Martínez continued to develop his attacking versatility, playing both on the wing and through the middle. The European experience broadened his tactical understanding and provided exposure to varied playing styles, which later translated into his performances in Major League Soccer.
New York City FC Era (2023–Present)
On 4 August 2023, it was announced that Martínez had signed with Major League Soccer club New York City FC. His first full season in 2023 served as an adjustment period to MLS, and the club missed the playoffs that year. Ahead of the 2024 campaign, head coach Nick Cushing made a positional adjustment, deploying Martínez as a striker rather than exclusively as a winger.
The positional change produced immediate results. On 31 May 2024, Martínez came on as a substitute and scored a 10-minute hat-trick in a 5–1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes. He finished the 2024 MLS season with a career-high 16 goals, playing a central role in guiding New York City FC back into the postseason. His combination of pace, movement, and finishing transformed him into one of the league’s most improved attackers.
Playing Style and Strengths
Martínez has traditionally been deployed as a winger, using his acceleration and direct dribbling to attack defenders in wide areas. Under Nick Cushing at New York City FC, he has adapted effectively to a striker role, demonstrating intelligent off-the-ball movement and a sharp finishing instinct inside the penalty area. His versatility allows coaches to use him across the front line, and his work rate complements high-pressing systems.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the standout moments of Martínez’s career is his 10-minute hat-trick against the San Jose Earthquakes on 31 May 2024, a performance that underscored his composure in front of goal. Reaching 16 league goals in the 2024 MLS season set a new career high and marked his arrival as a reliable MLS scorer. He also debuted internationally for Costa Rica on 3 June 2021 in a CONCACAF Nations League semi-final against Mexico.
Alonso Martínez International Career
Martínez was called up to the Costa Rica senior national team on 9 May 2021 for the 2021 CONCACAF Nations League Finals and was included in the final 23-man squad on 25 May. He made his senior debut on 3 June 2021 in the semi-final against Mexico, marking a significant milestone in his international career. He had previously represented the Costa Rica U-23 team during 2020 Summer Olympics qualifying, debuting on 18 March 2021 in a 1–0 defeat to the United States U-23.
Alonso Martínez Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Martínez was born and raised in Puntarenas, Costa Rica, and has maintained ties to his hometown throughout his professional journey. Publicly available details about his parents and immediate family remain limited, and he has not publicly shared extensive information about his personal background beyond his footballing roots.
Personal Life
Outside of football, Martínez keeps a relatively private personal life. There is no publicly confirmed information regarding a spouse, partner, or children based on the verified sources available. His professional social media presence, including his Instagram account, offers occasional glimpses into his training and match-day routines.
2025 Season Outlook
Heading into the 2025 Major League Soccer season, Martínez enters as one of New York City FC’s established attacking focal points following his 16-goal 2024 campaign. The positional shift to striker under head coach Nick Cushing is expected to continue, with the team building its offensive structure around his movement and finishing. Maintaining consistency over a full season will be a central goal for both player and club.
The playoff return achieved in 2024 sets a higher benchmark for 2025, and New York City FC will look to advance deeper into the postseason with Martínez leading the line. On the international stage, his senior experience with Costa Rica positions him as a candidate for continued selection in upcoming CONCACAF competitions. Sustained health, tactical chemistry with teammates, and continued adaptation to the central striker role will likely define his 2025 trajectory.