Josef Martínez Set for Free Agency After CF Montréal Contract Ends
Josef Martínez Faces New Chapter as MLS Free Agency Looms
Sometimes, a single player shapes the story of a club’s season—and Josef Martínez did just that for CF Montréal in 2024. But even after finding the net 14 times and helping push Montréal deep into a playoff race, the 31-year-old forward is on the move again. His time in Canada will end after the club decided not to pick up his contract option for 2025, sending Josef Martínez straight into the free agency pool this December.
This isn’t Martínez’s first time facing a crossroads. Back in 2020 and 2021, many doubted he would ever return to form following devastating ACL and knee injuries. But the Venezuelan striker—once the MLS MVP and winner of the 2018 Golden Boot—showed the same grit that made him famous at Atlanta United, quickly earning a crucial role in Montréal's attack. During the 2024 campaign, he started 26 games, knocked in 14 goals, and chipped in three assists. Those numbers alone tell a story, but the big moments—like his brace against old club Atlanta United during the playoffs—show why teams still circle his name in the offseason.
CF Montréal spent weeks trying to lock Martínez into a new deal, hoping to keep his veteran presence around a squad hungry for playoff success. In the end, though, both sides couldn’t reach an agreement, and the team announced they’d let him test the free agent waters. The club’s move surprised plenty of fans, but it reflects the economic reality facing MLS teams juggling salaries and squad depth with the league’s strict roster rules.
A New Role Awaits a Former Star
Martínez isn’t quite the unstoppable force that bulldozed through MLS defenses back in 2018, when he led Atlanta United to its first title and scored in the championship final. But he’s proven he still has a nose for goal—and his 116-career MLS regular season goals place him sixth all-time, above plenty of stars who’ve spent years in the league. That reputation and his seven playoff goals will likely spark interest from clubs chasing both experience and extra firepower on the bench.
Clubs searching for that perfect mix of proven talent and a hunger to win may see Martínez as the bargain of the offseason. While he’s no longer the clear-cut starter for a new project—those days faded after his knee surgeries—he stands out as a top-quality backup. He understands playoff pressure, knows what it's like to lift trophies, and can mentor a squad’s younger strikers as much as he can still punish defenders in short bursts.
- Martínez is expected to draw interest from several MLS teams in need of depth up top.
- He brings a wealth of playoff experience and a drive that’s tough to teach.
- Despite his age, he finished 2024 among the league's better goalscorers.
When December 12 rolls around, offers will start coming in. Martínez is no stranger to adapting, whether it was changing cities, overcoming major injuries, or shifting from stardom to a support role. Now, with another MLS offseason here and a new team on the horizon, he’ll have the chance to prove—once more—that he still has something left to give.
Comments
Sandhya Agrawal
May 30, 2025 AT 14:24They let him go because they're scared of his influence. You think it's about salary caps? Nah. They know he still commands respect in the locker room and that scares the new regime. This isn't economics-it's fear dressed up as business.
Vikas Yadav
June 1, 2025 AT 08:36I just want to say, thank you, Josef, for everything you've given to this league. You came back from injuries that would've ended most careers, and you played with heart every single minute. Your 116 goals? That's not luck. That's grit. You're a legend, no matter where you land next.
Amar Yasser
June 1, 2025 AT 12:56Honestly? He’s the perfect veteran to bring into any squad. Not the guy you start every game, but the guy you bring on in the 70th minute when you need a spark. He’s got that killer instinct. And hey, if he wants to mentor kids? Even better. MLS needs more of that.
Steven Gill
June 2, 2025 AT 19:06you know… sometimes i think about how people forget that athletes are human. josef had his body break down, he fought back, he didn’t just show up-he showed up *better*. and now they let him go because of numbers? what kind of world are we living in? he’s not a machine. he’s a man who gave everything.
Saurabh Shrivastav
June 3, 2025 AT 10:02Oh wow, a 31-year-old striker still scoring 14 goals? Must be the magic of the MLS salary cap fairy. Next thing you know, they’ll say he’s the next Messi. Spoiler: he’s not. He’s a guy who peaked in 2018 and is now just a nostalgia act with a decent assist total.
Prince Chukwu
June 3, 2025 AT 10:10Man… this guy’s got soul. I watched him score that brace against Atlanta like it was a movie scene-sweat, grit, fire in his eyes. You don’t find that in kids these days. He’s not just a goal machine-he’s a warrior. And if some team thinks he’s just a backup? They’re blind. He’s the spark that turns good teams into champions. Bring him to my city, please.
Divya Johari
June 4, 2025 AT 01:49The decision by CF Montréal is entirely justifiable under the current MLS roster regulations and financial constraints. To suggest otherwise is to romanticize athletic longevity at the expense of organizational sustainability. One cannot expect clubs to subsidize declining performance metrics regardless of historical contribution.
Aniket sharma
June 5, 2025 AT 01:35Josef’s been there, done that. Now he’s the guy who shows up, works hard, and lifts everyone around him. That’s rare. Teams should be lining up to give him a role-not because he’s gonna score 20 goals, but because he’s gonna make the whole team better. He’s a coach on the field.
Unnati Chaudhary
June 6, 2025 AT 20:20I just love how he never stopped believing in himself. Even when everyone wrote him off, he showed up every day like it meant something. And it did. To him. To his teammates. To the fans who still cheer when he runs onto the pitch. That’s the kind of legacy no stat can capture.
Sreeanta Chakraborty
June 7, 2025 AT 14:57This is what happens when you let foreign players dominate our league. He’s not even Canadian. He’s not even American. And now they’re treating him like a legend? We should be building our own talent, not clinging to aging imports who barely speak the language.
Vijendra Tripathi
June 8, 2025 AT 10:55i saw him play last month-still got that first step, still finds the back of the net like he’s got eyes in the back of his head. you don’t coach that. you just hope you get a guy like him. he’s the glue. the quiet guy who shows up early, stays late, and never complains. teams need that. not just goals. that kind of heart.