ATLANTA, GEORGIA—Atlanta United has been declared out of the MLS Cup playoffs. But because Josef Martinez is Josef Martinez, he left all of us with a small taste of his brilliance to ease our grief. The former MVP scored one of the best goals of his remarkable career against the New England Revolution as his team was having scoring trouble.
He connected with a cross from Brooks Lennon late in the game with a bicycle kick that sailed venomously into the goal. This had to have been a cathartic moment for Josef, who has faced upheaval and hardships from the beginning, despite the terrible season ending without a playoff berth.
There are rumors that he has asked to meet with Atlanta United’s front office to discuss his future, which is highly uncertain at this point. This magic moment should make for a highly engaging conversation starter if that encounter happens.
