Lushendi Edward Martes

Sparta Rotterdam's academy took Lushendry Martes in at nine years old, in 2017, after his early years at Rijnmond Hoogvliet Sport and VV Spijkenisse. He worked his way through the youth ranks until 2025, then stepped up to Jong Sparta, the club's reserve side, where he scored three goals in 13 appearances in the Tweede Divisie across the 2024–25 and 2025–26 seasons.

He signed his first professional contract with Sparta Rotterdam in June 2025, and his first-team debut followed on 18 December 2025, when he came off the bench in a KNVB Cup tie against Willem II. The breakthrough came fast: by January 2026 he was a regular starter in the Eredivisie, and on 11 January he made his first competitive start in the league, away to Heracles Almelo. That appearance made him the second-youngest player ever to start a league match for Sparta Rotterdam, behind only Emmanuel Emegha.

The club moved to secure him shortly after. On 16 February 2026, Martes signed a contract extension running to mid-2030, a deal described as a reward for the speed of his rise through the ranks.

Martes, who is of Curaçao descent, has also featured for the Netherlands at youth international level. He collected nine caps for the Dutch under-17 side between 2024 and 2025 without scoring, and has added six appearances for the under-18s, with one goal to his name.