Tony Martinez (Progress neighborhood, Murcia28 years old) is experiencing the strongest moment of his career. Convinced of being the ‘9’ that the team needs, the Murcian has taken a step forward this season to consolidate himself as a natural leader, both in terms of performance and numbers: he is one of the most dominant forwards in the aerial game in the five main European leagues and the best scorer in the league. Deportivo AlavéS. “What we’ve done so far is not enough. I’m happy to help with goals and assists, but I want to score more”, sums up a football player in full competitive maturity.
“What we’ve done so far is not enough. I’m happy to help with goals and assists, but I want to score more”
A summer declaration of intent
It all started in the pre-season. Tony He carried out an exercise in self-criticism and internal demands that not all football players face. He did this based on the commitment to Alaves and with a clear idea: to have an important season in terms of goals, personal growth and maximum performance. This statement of intent was translated into actions from day one.
His daily involvement, his way of training and his ability to face difficult moments have been evident. Eduardo Coudet He was able to recognize that and the team felt that. Tony He gave himself to the group through sacrifice, maturity, and a deeper understanding of what it means to defend the shield of the Deportivo Alaves.
Goals, results and resistance
The course started with immediate impact. Own goals Get up, Mallorca Yes Elx which translated into results and seven key points for the team. Then came a more complex phase, of drought and exhaustion, where the challenge was to resist, not give up and maintain your role within the group.
The end of 2025 was difficult, but this investment in work paid off at the beginning of the year. Goals in King’s Cup and somewhat decisive before the Real Betis confirmed that Tony arrives established, as an authorized figure, to the key part of the season for a Alaves who wants to get out of the red zone of the classification.
For this duel before RCD Spanish comes after playing a tremendous game, in substance and form, against the Real Betis. A defeat would have been devastating, it would have sunk the team. Toni appeared there, to speak on the field, without forcing speeches: “What we’ve done so far is not enough. I’m happy to help with goals and assists, but I want to score more.” Ambition, strong mentality and desire to continue growing.
Venting, anger and unlocking
One of his most talked about celebrations took place in the World Cup against Rayordering silence in the stands. Tony He explained bluntly: “Football players are people. It was anger, it wasn’t directed at anyone.” An internal message, an emotional explosion after weeks of personal demands.
“Football players are people. It was anger, it wasn’t directed at anyone”
Unconverted shares weighted before Real Madrid and, above all, before healthan occasion that he himself feels should have ended in a goal. The two before him Villareal – inconsequential in the result – helped him to unlock himself. Then came the goal Ray in the World Cup, which keeps the Alaves in the fight for the semifinals against Royal Society in Mendizorroza
Offensive reference and aerial dominance
Tony Martinez He is now the team’s top scorer with seven goals in all competitions: four in the League and three in the Cup. He is also the striker with the most minutes played (1,579), a number that reflects his real weight within the team.
But there is one aspect that takes it to another dimension: the aerial game. He is the player of LaLiga who disputes the most aerial balls, with more than eight per game, and the second one who wins the most duels, behind only a specialist like Vedat Muriqi (RCD Mallorca). In the five main European leagues, only Ludovic Ajorque (Brest Stadium1.97 m) improves his records.
This domain has direct translation in the marker. Two of his four goals in the championship were headed: the decisive one against Betis and the one who opened the season with a powerful corner kick against Get up.
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Lead without making noise
The beginning of 2026 only confirmed its growth. In January, he scored three goals in four games and has already equaled his number of goals from last season. It is a structural part for Coudetwho finds in him a pillar of his scheme, and a football player increasingly recognized by fans who value his effort, his character and his reliability.
Capable of serving as a single reference or being associated with Lucas Boyé, with whom he mixes wonderfully, Tony signed before Betis one of their most complete matches in recent years: goal, physical display, intensity, consecutive game and constant pressure on the rival defense.
Kike García’s mirror
The duel before Spanish adds an emotional component. In front will be Kike Garciafriend, fellow countryman and recent reference to Alavaism. His departure left a void that Toni is trying to fill, also with the essential help of Then.
“Kike García is a friend. I saw him as a child in La Nueva Condomina, then we shared a dressing room and now I’m facing him.
“He’s a friend. I saw him when I was little in The New Condominiumthen we shared a changing room and now I’m facing him. May things go as well as possible… from Friday onwards we want to beat them”, he summarized last Tuesday, in a press conference.
Tony Martinez faces a key semester in his career. He has a challenge: to crystallize as ‘9’ that the Alaves required: leader, dominant in the area and prepared to take on responsibilities in the moments that decide the seasons.
