Heiner Martinez

Heiner Martínez's route to Major League Soccer began far from the United States, in Uruguay's second tier. Playing for CA Juventud de las Piedras, the Colombian defender was part of the squad that won promotion to the top flight in 2025.

A loan spell at Central Español FC followed in 2025, and there too Martínez found himself on a promotion-winning side, helping the Montevideo club climb into the top division for the first time in more than a decade.

Philadelphia Union announced his signing in February 2026, bringing the centre-back from Uruguayan football into MLS. He wears the number 2 shirt for the club. At 189cm, he offers the kind of physical profile clubs look for at the back.

There is, as yet, no senior call-up to Colombia's national team on his record. For now, his story is still being written in the transition from South American second and third divisions to a starting role in MLS.