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{{Short description|Nigerian footballer}}{{EngvarB|date=November 2022}}{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}

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198428|df=y}}| birth_place = Lagos, NigeriaARCHIVE-DATE=16 JUNE 2010 TITLE=FIFA WORLD CUP SOUTH AFRICA 2010 LIST OF PLAYERS PAGE=22 ACCESS-DATE=2 MAY 2016, | currentclub =Forward (association football)>Forward| youthyears1 = 1999–2000F.C. Ebedei>Ebedei| years1 = 2000–2001A.C. Reggiana 1919>Reggiana| caps1 = 2| goals1 = 0| years2 = 2001–2006Inter MilanHTTP://WWW.INTER.IT/EN/ARCHIVIO_GIOCATORE/G0745 WORK=ARCHIVE ACCESS-DATE=6 FEBRUARY 2011, | caps2 = 88| goals2 = 28| years3 = 2006–2009Newcastle United F.C.>Newcastle United| caps3 = 88| goals3 = 28| years4 = 2009–2010| clubs4 = VfL Wolfsburg| caps4 = 16| goals4 = 6| years5 = 2010–2012FC Rubin Kazan>Rubin Kazan| caps5 = 20| goals5 = 3| years6 = 2011Birmingham City F.C.>Birmingham City (loan)| caps6 = 4| goals6 = 0| years7 = 2012–2013Levante UD>Levante| caps7 = 21| goals7 = 7| years8 = 2013–2015| clubs8 = Seattle Sounders FC| caps8 = 72| goals8 = 40| years9 = 2016–2018Shanghai Greenland Shenhua F.C.>Shanghai Shenhua| caps9 = 40| goals9 = 19| years10 = 2020Shanghai Greenland Shenhua F.C.>Shanghai Shenhua| caps10 = 4| goals10 = 0| years11 = 2020Wuhan F.C.>Wuhan| caps11 = 6| goals11 = 1| totalcaps = 361| totalgoals = 132| nationalyears1 = 2004–2015Nigeria national football team>Nigeria| nationalcaps1 = 42 | nationalgoals1 = 18}}Obafemi Akinwunmi Martins (born 28 October 1984) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a forward. He is known for his speed on the ball.After leaving Nigeria for Italy at age 16, he has since played for a number of top-division clubs around Europe. He began his senior career in 2002 at Serie A club Inter Milan, before he moved to Premier League club Newcastle United in 2006, and then to Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg in 2009. Having joined Russian Premier League side Rubin Kazan in July 2010, they loaned him to Birmingham City in January 2011. He spent a season with La Liga club Levante, he played for Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer from 2013 to 2015, scoring 40 goals, before spending several years in China with Shanghai Shenhua and Wuhan.In club football, Martins has won the Serie A title, the Italian Cup (twice), and the Italian Super Cup, all with Inter. With Birmingham he scored the winning goal in the 2011 Football League Cup Final. He has played European football with Inter, Newcastle and Wolfsburg, winning the UEFA Intertoto Cup with Newcastle. His highest scoring league seasons so far have seen him score 11 goals in the 2004–05 Serie A, and 17 in both the 2006–07 Premier League and 2014 MLS. In international football, Martins has been in the Nigerian squad for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2006, 2008 and 2010, and for the FIFA World Cup in 2010.

Club career

Early career

Martins joined the local football club F.C. Ebedei, having been scouted by manager Churchill Oliseh while playing on the streets of his hometown. After a year with the club, Serie C side A.C. Reggiana made a move for the player. After a three-month trial, Martins and fellow Ebedei teammate Stephen Makinwa signed youth contracts with the club in 2000. His first season in Italy saw Martins break into the first team squad, and later in the year Serie A sides Perugia and Inter Milan made offers for the forward.NEWS,weblink Obafemi Martins: Leap of faith from Lagos to Newcastle, 25 August 2007, The Independent, Jason, Burt,weblink 17 May 2008,

Inter Milan

(File:17 aprile al meazza (9689231) (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Martins (right) with Inter Milan in 2005)Martins was signed by Inter Milan in 2001 for a €750,000 transfer fee,WEB,weblink Mister Oba Oba, inter.it, 13 October 2018, and in his first season he scored 23 goals for the youth team, helping them to win the Campionato Nazionale Primavera in 2001–02 season.WEB,weblink La festa è tutta dell' Inter, The celebration is all for Inter, La Gazzetta dello Sport, it, 12 February 2002, 13 October 2018, His form for the youth side led to his first-team league debut the following season, starting in a match against Parma on 22 December 2002 which was won by Inter 2–1.WEB,weblink Parma 1:2 Inter, Calcio.com, it, 22 December 2002, 13 October 2018, Martins didn't become a regular member of the first team squad until the 2002–03 season. During this season he was given his first UEFA Champions League appearance by manager Héctor Cúper, entering as a substitute against his future employers, Newcastle United, at St James' Park. He scored his first Champions League goal in a match against Bayer 04 Leverkusen to secure Inter's place in the quarter-finals; footage of his celebratory somersaults were subsequently used by UEFA to advertise the following season's competition. He scored again in the semi-final match against Inter's arch-rivals Milan, but couldn't prevent the club losing out on away goals to the competition's eventual winners.WEB,weblink Inter passage paved by Martins, UEFA.com, 19 March 2003, 3 August 2012, In the championship, he scored once in four appearances.Martins signed a long-term contract with Inter Milan in 2005 which ran until 2010 and was worth around €2.5 million annually.WEB,weblink Martins signs new Inter deal, Sky Sports, Nadia Carminati, 1 December 2005, 4 March 2007, By scoring in the 3–1 win at Anderlecht in the 2004–05 UEFA Champions League group stage, Martins become the first ever teenager to score in three consecutive Champions League seasons.WEB,weblink Kylian Mbappe equals Obafemi Martins record, Pulse.ng, Tosin Abayomi, 19 September 2018, 13 October 2018, He was also protagonist in team's successful run in Coppa Italia, scoring six goals, including a hat-trick against Bologna,WEB,weblink Bologna 1:3 Inter, Calcio.com, it, 12 January 2005, 13 October 2018, as the tournament ended in conquest.WEB,weblink #TBT: 2005 Coppa Italia triumph, inter.it, 15 June 2017, 13 October 2018, Martins amassed 22 goals in 45 matches across all competitions, setting a new personal best; his good form for Inter earned him a spot in Nigeria's 2006 Africa Cup of Nations squad.WEB,weblink Group D, The Guardian, Paul Doyle, 16 January 2006, 13 October 2018, Although he had some success with Inter, scoring 28 goals for the club in 88 league games as well as 11 goals in European competitions, he was sold in August 2006. This was due to Inter bringing in two new strikers; first Argentinian Hernán Crespo was brought in on loan from Chelsea and then the Swede Zlatan Ibrahimović was bought by Inter from Juventus.NEWS, 7 August 2006,weblink Martins asks to leave, Sky Sports, 4 March 2007,

Newcastle United

(File:Oba Martins.JPG|170px|thumb|Martins warming up before a match)After Martins submitted a transfer request, Premier League club Newcastle United completed a deal with Inter for the striker on 24 August 2006 for €15 million.WEB,weblink Newcastle FC 2006 Annual Report, Newcastle FC, 3 August 2012, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20121002101544weblink">weblink 2 October 2012, dmy-all, Martins signed a five-year deal. He was paraded in front of the Geordie fans before their UEFA cup tie against FK Ventspils, and inherited the club's cherished number 9 shirt, vacated after the retirement of the club-record goalscorer Alan Shearer in April.Martins made his Premier League debut on 27 August, in the 2–0 defeat to Aston Villa, in which he was stretchered off with a knee injury. It turned out that Martins suffered a severe dead leg and internal bleeding. His unremarkable first few appearances for Newcastle caused manager Glenn Roeder to speak out in his defence.NEWS,weblink Be patient with Martins – Roeder, BBC Sport, 11 September 2006, 25 May 2011, File:Butt and Martins.jpg|thumb|left|170px|Martins with Newcastle teammate Nicky ButtNicky ButtHowever, on 17 September, Martins scored his first goal for Newcastle. It was the second goal in a 2–0 victory over West Ham United at Upton Park, and from there his goalscoring form began to improve steadily.Reports in January 2007 suggested that Chelsea were considering making an offer for Martins' services after his impressive form. These reports were later rubbished by Martins himself,NEWS, 11 January 2007,weblink Martins slams Chelsea links, Sky Sports,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20070114000959weblink">weblink 14 January 2007, Graeme, Bailey, and Roeder stated that although he was interested in signing a Chelsea player, he would not allow Martins to leave Newcastle.NEWS, 28 January 2007,weblink Roeder admits Blues enquiry, Sky Sports, James, Pearson, 4 August 2012, On 14 January, in a 2–3 away win against Tottenham Hotspur, Martins' 20-yard shot rocketed into the net. This strike was clocked by Sky Sports at a speed of 84 mph (135 km/h), making it unofficially the ninth hardest shot ever recorded in football according to the Guardian website.NEWS, 14 February 2007,weblink The hardest recorded shot in football – ever, The Guardian, 4 March 2007, London, James, Dart, Paolo, Bandini, This was his tenth goal for Newcastle. Martins ended his first season on Tyneside with 17 goals in 46 games.(File:Obafemi Martins.png|thumb|right|170px|Martins at a pre-season training camp with Newcastle in 2007)His second season was somewhat mixed. With new manager Sam Allardyce preferring to play Michael Owen and Mark Viduka up front, Martins found himself being used as an impact substitute for the first half of the season. Despite this he managed to score consistently, and when Allardyce was sacked and Kevin Keegan was appointed, Martins found himself being used as part of a three pronged attack along with Owen and Viduka. Martins scored fewer goals in his second season with Newcastle, mainly due to him no longer being the focal point of all their attacks as he was in his first season with them, as well as his season being interrupted with the African Cup of Nations participation with Nigeria in December.Martins scored six goals in 12 league games during the first half of the 2008–09 season before a torn hamstring ruled him out for several games.NEWS,weblink Martins missing for Magpies against Spurs, 21 December 2008, 29 December 2008, The Northern Echo, Paul, Fraser, It was confirmed on 7 January 2009, that Martins would undergo hernia surgery in Germany the next Monday. He was operated on by renowned specialist Dr. Ulrike Muschaweck. He did make it back in time for the last two games of the season, scoring in a relegation six-pointer derby against Middlesbrough. However, he could not stop Newcastle being relegated to the Championship.WEB,weblink Toon striker Martins forced into hernia op, ESPN Soccernet, 7 January 2009, 7 January 2009,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100105013606weblink">weblink 5 January 2010, dead, He initially reiterated his desire to stay and help the club return to the Premier League for the 2009–10 season, but he eventually left for VfL Wolfsburg. His last game was in a preseason friendly against Leyton Orient, which Newcastle lost 6–1.During his three-year spell on Tyneside, Martins amassed 35 goals in all competitions from 104 games.

VfL Wolfsburg

On 29 July 2009, Newcastle accepted a £9 million bid from Bundesliga champions VfL Wolfsburg, the transfer was confirmed on 31 July with Martins signing a four-year contract.NEWS, 31 July 2009,weblink Wolfsburg seal Martins deal, Sky Sports, 31 July 2009, For his debut, Martins came on as a second-half substitute against 1. FC Köln at the Rhein Energie Stadion, with his team deadlocked at 1–1. He helped in the buildup to the second goal and capped off his first appearance in the Bundesliga with a well-taken goal after dribbling past two onrushing defenders and then coolly finishing from six yards out, slotting the ball past the goalkeeper to the far post.

Rubin Kazan

On 9 July 2010, Martins was sold for a reported €17 million to reigning Russian Premier League champions Rubin Kazan. He signed a three-year contract and told BBC Sport: "I am joining a team of champions and I hope to bring my best to the club to make them even greater." Martins' agent, Nicola Walter, revealed that Rubin met all of the player's requirements and that manager Kurban Berdyev had a "massive role" for him to play, following the departure of striker Aleksandr Bukharov. Martins was able to make his debut with Rubin after 1 August, when the transfer window was opened. On 9 May 2012, Rubin Kazan won the Russian Cup giving Martins his first trophy in Russia.NEWS,weblink Nigeria's Obafemi Martins signs for Russian champions, BBC Sport, 9 July 2010, Oluwashina, Okeleji, 25 May 2011, NEWS,weblink ru:"Рубин" заплатил "Вольфсбургу" за Обафеми Мартинса 16 миллионов евро, срок контракта – 3 года, sports.ru, 9 July 2010, ru, 3 August 2012,

Loan to Birmingham City

File:Martinsbirmingham2011.png|150px|thumb|Martins celebrating after the 2011 Football League Cup Final2011 Football League Cup FinalFollowing the birth of his child, Martins requested a move to England to be nearer to his family.NEWS,weblink Martins will play in Birmingham City on loan, FC Rubin Kazan, 28 January 2011, 31 January 2011, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20110202091726weblink">weblink 2 February 2011, On 31 January 2011, he joined Premier League club Birmingham City on loan until the end of the season,NEWS,weblink Blues complete Martins deal, Birmingham City F.C, 31 January 2011, 31 January 2011, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20110203034921weblink">weblink 3 February 2011, with the option of a £5 million permanent deal in the summer of 2011.NEWS,weblink Birmingham City fend off major bid as they land Obafemi Martins, Birmingham Mail, 1 February 2011, 1 February 2011, Colin, Tattum, He made his debut, which had been delayed by the formalities of obtaining a working visa, in the starting eleven against Stoke City on 12 February; he played for 75 minutes as Birmingham won 1–0.NEWS,weblink Nigeria's Obafemi Martins set for Birmingham City debut, BBC Sport, 9 February 2011, 25 May 2011, NEWS,weblink Birmingham 1–0 Stoke, Les, Roopanarine, BBC Sport, 12 February 2011, 25 May 2011, He scored his first goal for the club, 17 minutes into the FA Cup fifth-round defeat of Sheffield Wednesday, after a strong run.NEWS,weblink Birmingham cruise leaves Gary Megson lamenting woeful Wednesday, David, Lacey, The Guardian, 21 February 2011, 21 February 2011, London, Martins scored the winning goal in the 2011 Football League Cup Final as Birmingham beat Arsenal 2–1 at Wembley Stadium, having been brought on as an 83rd-minute substitute. With one minute remaining in normal time, there was a moment of confusion between Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech SzczÄ™sny and defender Laurent Koscielny as they attempted to deal with a headed knock down from Birmingham's Nikola Žigić. Martins passed the resulting loose ball into the empty net from near the penalty spot.NEWS,weblink Football: Arsenal 1–2 Birmingham, Carling Cup Final 2011 Result, The Global Herald, 27 February 2011, 27 February 2011, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20110717000540weblink">weblink 17 July 2011, Martins described it as "the easiest goal I've ever scored in my career".NEWS,weblink Jubilant Martins celebrates victory, ESPN Soccernet, 27 February 2011, 28 February 2011, After two more Premier League appearances, he spent several weeks out with an injury eventually diagnosed as a stress fracture of the left tibia. After surgery in late April, he faced a recovery period estimated at three to four months.NEWS,weblink Oba out for the season, Birmingham City F.C., 29 April 2011, 28 February 2018,

Levante

File:Obafemi Martins.jpg|thumb|left|Martins (pictured with Levante in 2012) is known for celebrating a goal with a backflip ]]On 13 September 2012, Martins moved to Levante on a free transfer, signing a two-year contract.NEWS,weblink El Levante ya espera a Martins, Marca.com, 13 September 2012, 13 September 2012, NEWS, Oluwashina, Okeleji, Nigeria's Martins completes Levante move,weblink BBC Sport, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), 14 September 2012, 7 October 2012, He made his league debut on 23 September 2012, where he scored his first goal, and the winning goal, in a 2–1 home win against Real Sociedad.NEWS, Martins marks debut with winner,weblink ESPN Soccernet, Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN), 23 September 2012, 7 October 2012, Martins scored a brace for Levante in their 3–1 home victory over Granada on 28 October, sending his side into fourth place in the La Liga standings.WEB,weblink Levante 3–1 Granada: Martins double puts JIM's men fourth, Heath, Chesters, Inside Spanish Football, 28 October 2012, dead,weblink" title="archive.today/20130127005517weblink">weblink 27 January 2013,

Seattle Sounders FC

File:Obafemi Martins at SeaTac Airport.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Martins at Seattle Tacoma International Airport upon arrival to Seattle Sounders FCSeattle Sounders FCOn 11 March 2013, it was announced that Martins signed with MLS club Seattle Sounders FC as a Designated Player after the club paid a $4 million buyout clause in Martins' contract with Levante. The move concluded weeks of speculation of a possible Martins move to Seattle. Levante had been hesitant to lose Martins mid-season, and had threatened Sounders FC with a tampering lawsuit.WEB, Adewuyi, Lolade, Obafemi Martins signs for Seattle Sounders,weblink GOAL.com, 11 March 2013, 11 March 2013, On 15 March 2013, the club announced that the signing was official.WEB, Sounders FC Signs Nigerian Striker Obafemi Martins,weblink 15 March 2013, 15 March 2013, Seattle Sounders FC, Sounders FC Public Relations, Martins scored his first goal for the club on 20 April 2013, performing his signature back-flip goal celebration.WEB,weblink Obafemi Martins, mlssoccer.com, 20 April 2013, On 24 October 2014, Martins signed a new three-year contract extension with Seattle, nearly doubling his annual salary to more than $3 million.WEB,weblink$3-million-a-year-sources, Sounders give Obafemi Martins deal worth $3 million a year, sources say, ESPNFC, 24 October 2014, 26 October 2014, The following day, Martins provided an assist for Marco Pappa's first goal as Seattle defeated the Galaxy 2–0 to win the Supporters' Shield.WEB,weblink First impressions: Sounders 2, Galaxy 0, Seattle Times, 25 October 2014, 26 October 2014, The assist meant that Martins finished with 17 goals during the regular season, a club record, as well as notching 13 assists, a joint-club record held with Mauro Rosales.WEB,weblink Obafemi Martins, Robbie Keane Race For MVP, Sounders Nation, 15 October 2014, 26 October 2014, Martins had a very successful 2014 season with the Sounders, his second with the club, and was named as one of three MLS MVP finalists.WEB,weblink Robbie Keane, Obafemi Martins, Lee Nguyen vie for MVP as MLS announces 2014 awards finalists, 20 November 2014, 12 March 2015, Martins was named to the MLS Best XI and the Sounders won every game in which he scored.WEB,weblink MLS reveals 2014 Best XI, 2 December 2014, 12 March 2015, He also won MLS Goal of the Year for a looping goal he shot from an extremely tight angle near the end line into the far netting over Earthquakes keeper Jon Busch.WEB,weblink 2014 Goal of the Year Winner: Obafemi Martins, 12 March 2015,

Shanghai Shenhua

On 18 February 2016, Martins was signed for Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua.WEB,weblink Obafemi Martins leaves MLS for Chinese Super League, BBC Sport, 18 February 2016, 21 February 2016, On 15 May 2016, he scored his first goal with Shanghai as a late substitute in a 5–1 win over Guangzhou R&F.WEB,weblink Shenhua punishes R&F 5-1, Shanghai Daily, 16 May 2016, 21 May 2016, Martins scored the only goal in the first leg of the 2017 Chinese FA Cup final and scored a spectacular goal in the second. Although their opponents, Shanghai SIPG, won the second leg 3–2, Shanghai Shenhua won the trophy on away goals.NEWS,weblink Nigeria's Obafemi Martins helps Shenhua win Chinese FA Cup, BBC Sport, 26 November 2017, 27 November 2017, On 31 March 2018, Martins scored his first hat-trick for Shenhua in a 4–2 home win against Hebei China Fortune.NEWS,weblink 中超-马丁斯戴帽瓜林建功 申花4-2逆转华夏取连胜, Sina Sport, 31 March 2018, 8 April 2018, However, he suffered a partial rupture of tendon of quadriceps femoris at his right knee in the fifth group stage match of 2018 AFC Champions League against Kashima Antlers on 3 April 2018, which ruled him out for at least six months.NEWS,weblink 申花公布马丁斯伤情:肌腱部分断裂 康复需6-7个月, Sina Sport, 4 April 2018, 8 April 2018, On 1 June 2018 it was announced that Martins had been waived from Shenhua.WEB, 登巴巴回归申花在即 马丁斯已解约注册无障碍,weblink sina.com, 1 June 2018, 25 October 2018, zh, He suffered a torn hamstring in May 2019, and in November 2019 said that he was seeking a new club following his recovery from injury.WEB,weblink Obafemi Martins: Nigeria star not contemplating retirement yet, BBC Sport, 9 November 2019, 11 November 2019, Oluwashina, Okeleji,

Return to Shanghai Shenhua

On 15 July 2020, it was announced that Martins returned to Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua.WEB, 空翻王回归!申花官宣马丁斯加盟 17年足协杯立大功,weblink sports.sina.com.cn, 15 July 2020,

Wuhan Zall

On 20 September 2020, after his Shanghai Shenhua contract was terminated, Martins joined Chinese Super League club Wuhan Zall on a short-term deal until the end of the season.NEWS,weblink Shanghai Shenhua terminates Obafemi Martins's contract one month after signing him for free, Own Goal Nigeria, 18 September 2020, 30 November 2021, NEWS,weblink Reporter:Martins has arrived in the Suzhou Division and is expected to play against Chongqing, YQQLM, 20 September 2020, 30 November 2021,

International career

Martins made his debut for Nigeria in 2004 at the age of 19 in the 2004 Unity Cup scoring the second goal, in the tri-nations Unity Cup tournament in London.NEWS, 30 May 2004,weblink Martins delighted with debut, BBC Sport, 24 April 2019, He was a part of the Nigerian team that finished third in the 2006 African Cup of Nations. Martins scored two goals in the competition, both coming against Senegal in the first round.His future for the national team was placed in doubt on numerous occasions after separate incidents of controversy. In August 2006, the Nigerian FA (NFA) website had his date of birth down as 1 May 1978, which would have made him 28 years of age rather than 21. The NFA soon confirmed that it had been an administrative error and apologised for the confusion it had caused. However Martins threatened to quit playing for the national team after the blunder had initially put his move to Newcastle in doubt.NEWS, 4 August 2006,weblink NFA embarrasses Obafemi Martins, ridicules Nigeria, Vanguard, 4 March 2007,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20061031063329weblink">weblink 31 October 2006, On 6 February 2007, Martins failed to turn up for the 4–1 friendly defeat against Ghana, despite being ordered to play. He later explained his absence was due to the fact he had travelled to Lagos to visit his sick mother.NEWS, 7 February 2007,weblink Martins no-show for sick mother, BBC Sport, 25 May 2011, The Nigerian caretaker coach Augustine Eguavoen was furious with Martins and threatened to ban him from the national team.NEWS, 9 February 2007,weblink Nigeria get tough on Martins, BBC Sport, 25 May 2011, Oluwashina, Okeleji, On 14 February 2007, Martins apologised for missing the game but said he believed his mother's health was more important. He also said that he would be available to play for Nigeria in the future.NEWS, 14 February 2007,weblink Martins sorry for Nigeria no-show, BBC Sport, 25 May 2011, He made his return to the national side on 24 March 2007, playing the full match against Uganda in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match and won.Following the end of Nigeria's 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign, Nigeria faced Mexico in Ciudad Juárez for a friendly match. Martins scored two goals in a 2–2 draw.On 17 November 2007, Martins captained Nigeria for the first time, in a friendly match against Australia for his 19th appearance. On 12 November 2009 he scored a spectacular goal in the 83rd minute against Kenya in Nairobi, thus ensuring Nigeria's qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. At the finals in South Africa, Martins played in just two games for a total of 71 minutes, without scoring.WEB,weblinkweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20101224171037weblink">weblink dead, 24 December 2010, 2010 FIFA World Cup – Obafemi MARTINS, FIFA.com, 3 August 2012, In the first group game, he came on as a 52nd-minute substitute for Victor Obinna.WEB,weblinkweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20101219080430weblink">weblink dead, 19 December 2010, Argentina 1:0 (1:0) Nigeria, FIFA.com, 12 June 2010, 3 August 2012, In the third game he was used as a 57th-minute substitute for Nwankwo Kanu.WEB,weblinkweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20101227101225weblink">weblink dead, 27 December 2010, Nigeria 2:2 (1:1) Korea Republic, FIFA.com, 22 June 2010, 3 August 2012, Nigeria exited the tournament bottom of Group B with only one point.WEB,weblinkweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20101206053705weblink">weblink dead, 6 December 2010, Nigeria, FIFA.com, 3 August 2012,

Style of play

(File:Obafemi Martins defended by LA Galaxy.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Martins in action for Seattle in 2014)A fast, diminutive, and agile left-footed striker, who is quick on the ball, Martins is primarily known for his outstanding pace, mobility, and athleticism as a footballer, as well as his striking power, strength, and his elevation, despite his small stature; he has also stood out for his acrobatic goal celebrations.WEB,weblink Martins, scatti gol e timidezza Le mie capriole per Mancini, Martins, sprints goals and shyness My back-flips for Mancini, La Repubblica, Andrea Sorrentino, it, 4 February 2005, 9 June 2015, WEB,weblink Le acrobazie di Martins non svegliano l' Inter, Martins's acrobatics don't wake Inter up, Il Corriere della Sera, Mario Gherarducci, it, 4 May 2003, 9 June 2015, WEB, Alessandro, Di Gioia,weblink Che fine ha fatto? 'Oba Oba' Martins, dalla Champions sfiorata con l'Inter al ritorno dopo due anni... in Cina!, calciomercato.com, it, 29 March 2020, 6 June 2020,

Personal life

Martins had two brothers who also played football professionally. His elder brother, Oladipupo Martins, played for Reggiana, Partizan and Innsbruck before retiring from football in 2009 due to heart problems. He died on 8 August 2011 of a suspected heart attack in Lagos, Nigeria.WEB,weblink How Did Nigeria's Obafemi Martins' Brother Die?, Socqer.com, 10 August 2011, 3 August 2012, WEB,weblink Martins' Brother Dies of Heart Problem, Vanguard, 9 August 2011, 3 August 2012, Martins' younger brother is John Ronan Martins. The name "Obafemi" translates literally to "the king loves me" in the Yoruba language.WEB,weblink Meaning of Obafemi, Nigerian.name, 3 August 2012, Martins received his U.S. green card in 2015 which qualifies him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.WEB,weblink Obafemi Martins indeed has a green card, sounderatheart.com, 17 December 2015, 27 December 2015, Jeremiah, Oshan, He is married to Ghanaian-Italian Abigail Barwuah, sister of Mario Balotelli. The couple have one child named Kendrick, born in 2013.WEB,weblink Mario Balotelli non ha dubbi: 'Mio nipote è swag'. Il calciatore innamorato del figlio di Abigail Barwuah e Obafemi Martins, Kendrick, it, gossip.it, 15 October 2015, 7 April 2016, His elder son Kevin Maussi Martins (born 31 January 2005) followed on his father's footsteps and became a youth international for Italy.WEB,weblink Kevin Martins, il figlio di Oba Oba già protagonista all'Inter, it, Goal.com, 16 December 2020, 2 January 2021,

Career statistics

Club{| class"wikitable" style"text-align: center"

!rowspan="2"|Club!rowspan="2"|Season!colspan="3"|League!colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Coppa Italia, FA Cup, DFB-Pokal, Russian Cup, Copa del Rey, U.S. Open Cup, Chinese FA Cup}}!colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes Football League Cup}}!colspan="2"|Continental!colspan="2"|Other!colspan="2"|Total!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!GoalsA.C. Reggiana 1919>ReggianaHTTPS://WWW.CARRIERECALCIATORI.IT/IT/GIOCATORI/15069-OBAFEMI%20MARTINS >TITLE=STATISTICHE SU MARTINS OBAFEMI LANGUAGE=IT, 4 February 2024, |2000–01Lega Pro Prima Divisione>Serie C1—colspan="2"—colspan="2"|0Inter Milan2001–02 Inter Milan season>2001–02|Serie A—00colspan="2"|02002–03 Inter Milan season>2002–03|Serie A—4{{efnAppearances in UEFA Champions League}}2colspan="2"|32003–04 Inter Milan season>2003–04|Serie A—9{{efnUEFA Cup}}>—37112004–05 Inter Milan season>2004–05|Serie A—9{{efn—46222005–06 Inter Milan season>2005–06|Serie A—9{{efnname=SupercoppaSupercoppa Italiana}}>|13!colspan="2"|Total!88!!28!!16!!9!!colspan="2"|—!!31!!12!!1!!0!!136!!49Newcastle United2006–07 Newcastle United F.C. season>2006–07|Premier LeagueAppearances in UEFA Cup}}6colspan="2"|172007–08 Newcastle United F.C. season>2007–08|Premier League—colspan="2"|102008–09 Newcastle United F.C. season>2008–09|Premier League—colspan="2"|8!colspan="2"|Total!88!!28!!2!!0!!5!!1!!9!!6!!colspan="2"|—!!104!!35|VfL Wolfsburg2009–10 VfL Wolfsburg season>2009–10|Bundesliga16610colspan="2"Four appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, four appearances in UEFA Europa League}}1colspan="2"|7Rubin Kazan2010 FC Rubin Kazan season>2010|Russian Premier League122colspan="2"—5{{efn—1722011–12 FC Rubin Kazan season>2011–12|Russian Premier League8110colspan="2"One appearance in UEFA Champions League, seven appearances and two goals in UEFA Europa League}}2colspan="2"|32012–13 FC Rubin Kazan season>2012–13|Russian Premier League—colspan="2"—1{{efnAppearance in Russian Super CupHTTPS://WWW.RSSSF.ORG/TABLESR/RUS2012.HTML#SUP >TITLE=RUSSIA 2011/12: RUSSIAN SUPER CUP 2012 LAST=DRYOMIN DATE=14 OCTOBER 2021 |0!colspan="2"|Total!20!!3!!1!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!13!!2!!1!!0!!35!!5Birmingham City F.C.>Birmingham City (loan)2010–11 Birmingham City F.C. season>2010–11|Premier League—colspan="2"|2Levante UD>Levante2012–13 Levante UD season>2012–13|La Liga—3{{efn—279Seattle Sounders FC2013 Seattle Sounders FC season>2013|Major League Soccername=USOCU.S. Open CupHTTPS://UK.SOCCERWAY.COM/PLAYERS/OBAFEMI-MARTINS/4466/ WEBSITE=SOCCERWAY ACCESS-DATE=4 FEBRUARY 2024, }}0colspan="2"—1{{efnAppearances in MLS Cup Playoffs}}02282014 Seattle Sounders FC season>2014|Major League Soccername=USOC}}2colspan="2"—4{{efn|192015 Seattle Sounders FC season>2015|Major League Soccername=USOC}}1colspan="2"name=MLS}}02516!colspan="2"|Total!72!!40!!4!!3!!colspan="2"|—!!0!!0!!8!!0!!84!!43Shanghai Shenhua2016 Chinese Super League>2016|Chinese Super League—colspan="2"—31152017 Chinese Super League>2017|Chinese Super League—1{{efn—21132018 Chinese Super League>2018|Chinese Super League—5{{efnAppearances in AFC Champions League}}11{{efnAppearance in Chinese FA Super Cup}}074!colspan="2"|Total!40!!19!!12!!12!!colspan="2"|—!!6!!1!!1!!0!!59!!32|Shanghai Shenhua2020 Chinese Super League>2020|Chinese Super League—00colspan="2"|0Wuhan F.C.>Wuhan2020 Chinese Super League>2020|Chinese Super League—colspan="2"—61!colspan="3"|Career total!361!!132!!40!!25!!6!!2!!70!!24!!11!!0!!488!!183{{notelist}}URLHTTPS://WWW.RSSSF.ORG/MISCELLANEOUS/OBMARTINS-INTLG.HTML, titleObafemi Akinwunmi Martins - Goals in International Matches, firstRoberto, lastMamrud, publisherRSSSF, date6 January 2016, access-date4 February 2024, ">

International{| class"wikitable" style"text-align:center"URLHTTPS://WWW.RSSSF.ORG/MISCELLANEOUS/OBMARTINS-INTLG.HTML, titleObafemi Akinwunmi Martins - Goals in International Matches, firstRoberto, lastMamrud, publisherRSSSF, date6 January 2016, access-date4 February 2024,

!National team!!Year!!Apps!!GoalsNigeria|3|6|2|2|0|2|3|0|0|0|0|0!colspan="2"|Total!!42!!18 {| class="wikitable sortable"|+ List of international goals scored by Obafemi Martins!scope="col"|No.!scope="col"|Date!scope="col"|Venue!scope="col"|Opponent!scope="col"|Score!scope="col"|Result!scope="col"|Competition!scope="col" class="unsortable"|{{abbr|Refs|References}}1 29 May 2004 The Valley (stadium), London, England >IRL}} style="text-align:center"3–0 FriendlyNEWSPAPER=IRISH EXAMINER ACCESS-DATE=3 FEBRUARY 2024, 2 rowspan="2"National Stadium, Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria >{{fb1–0 rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"2006 FIFA World Cup qualificationHTTP://NEWS.BBC.CO.UK/SPORT1/HI/FOOTBALL/AFRICA/3777459.STM >TITLE=GROUP FOUR RESULTS DATE=6 JUNE 2024, 3 February 2024, 3 style="text-align:center"|2–04 5 June 2005 Amahoro Stadium, Kigali, Rwanda {{fb1–1 style="text-align:center"| 2006 FIFA World Cup qualificationWEBSITE=11V11 ACCESS-DATE=4 FEBRUARY 2024, 5 17 August 2005 Tripoli Stadium, Tripoli, Libya, Libya >LBY}} style="text-align:center"1–0 FriendlyWEBSITE=BBC SPORT ACCESS-DATE=3 FEBRUARY 2024, 6 rowspan="2"Ahmed Zabana Stadium, Oran, Algeria rowspan="2"ALG}} style="text-align:center"5–2 rowspan="2"|2006 FIFA World Cup qualificationHTTPS://ONLINENIGERIA.COM/NM/TEMPLATES/?A=5184 >TITLE=HAIL NEW NIGERIA! LAST=OLAJIRE DATE=12 SEPTEMBER 2005, 3 February 2024, 7 style="text-align:center"|4–28 rowspan="2" National Stadium, Abuja, Nigeria rowspan="2" ZIM}} style="text-align:center"5–1 rowspan="2" | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualificationHTTPS://ONLINENIGERIA.COM/NM/TEMPLATES/?A=5503 >TITLE=NIGERIA OUT OF GERMANY 2006 DATE=9 OCTOBER 2005, 3 February 2024, 9 style="text-align:center"|3–110 rowspan="2"Port Said Stadium, Port Said, Egypt rowspan="2"SEN}} style="text-align:center"2–1 rowspan="2"|2006 Africa Cup of NationsHTTP://EDITION.CNN.COM/2006/SPORT/FOOTBALL/01/31/AFRICA.NATIONS/ >TITLE=MARTINS GIVES NIGERIA COMEBACK WIN DATE=31 JANUARY 2006, 3 February 2024, 11 style="text-align:center"|2–112 rowspan="2"Estadio Olímpico Benito Juárez, Ciudad Juárez, Mexico rowspan="2"MEX}} style="text-align:center"2–2 rowspan="2"|FriendlyHTTPS://WWW.NEWSPAPERS.COM/ARTICLE/EL-PASO-TIMES-MEXICO-2-NIGERIA-2-2007/140184917/ >TITLE=MEXICO RALLIES TO TIE NIGERIA, 2–2 LAST=ERFORT DATE=15 OCTOBER 2007 VIA=NEWSPAPERS.COM, 13 style="text-align:center"|2–014 rowspan="2"Moi International Sports Centre, Nairobi, Kenya rowspan="2"KEN}} style="text-align:center"3–2 rowspan="2"2010 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF third round>2010 FIFA World Cup qualificationHTTPS://UK.SOCCERWAY.COM/MATCHES/2009/11/14/AFRICA/WC-QUALIFYING-AFRICA/KENYA/NIGERIA/732560/ >TITLE=KENYA VS. NIGERIA 2–3 PUBLISHER=PERFORM GROUP, 3 February 2024, 15 style="text-align:center"|3–216 20 January 2010 Estádio Nacional da Tundavala, Lubango, Angola {{fb3–0 style="text-align:center"2010 Africa Cup of Nations Group C>2010 Africa Cup of NationsWEBSITE=NEWS24 (SOUTH AFRICA) ACCESS-DATE=3 FEBRUARY 2024, 17 6 June 2010 Makhulong Stadium, Tembisa, South Africa {{fb3–1 style="text-align:center"| FriendlyNEWSPAPER=THE KOREA TIMES ACCESS-DATE=3 FEBRUARY 2024, 18 5 September 2010 U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar, Nigeria {{fb1–0 style="text-align:center"| 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualificationWEBSITE=P.M. NEWS ACCESS-DATE=3 FEBRUARY 2024,

Honours

Inter Milan

• Serie A: 2005–06
• Coppa Italia: 2004–05, 2005–06
• Supercoppa Italiana: 2005

Newcastle United

• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2006

Birmingham CityNEWS,weblink Arsenal 1–2 Birmingham, Philip, McNulty, BBC Sport, 27 February 2011, 25 March 2024,

• Football League Cup: 2010–11

Rubin Kazan

• Russian Cup: 2011–12
• Russian Super Cup: 2012

Seattle Sounders FC

• MLS Supporters' Shield: 2014
• U.S. Open Cup: 2014

Shanghai Shenhua

• Chinese FA Cup: 2017

Nigeria

• Africa Cup of Nations third place: 2006WEB,weblink African Nations Cup 2004, RSSSF, 15 December 2006, 22 November 2020, Barrie, Courtney, Julián, Díaz Rubio, Hamdan, Saaid, Karel, Stokkermans, Martín, Tabeira,

Individual

• CAF Most Promising Talent of the Year: 2003, 2004WEB,weblink Iheanacho adjudged Most Promising Talent, Confederation of African Football, 9 January 2014, 27 December 2015,
• MLS Best XI: 2014
• MLS Goal of the Year: 2014
• MLS All-Star: 2015WEB,weblink Sebastian Giovinco, Kei Kamara among 22 players named to 2015 AT&T MLS All-Star Game roster, Major League Soccer, 20 July 2015, 26 October 2015,
• Chinese FA Cup: Top Goalscorer: 2017WEB,weblink 2017足协杯射手榜, zh, sports.sina.com.cn, 18 March 2017, 24 December 2017,

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{Commons category}}

• {{Soccerbase}}
• {{Soccerway}}
• {{NFT player}}

{{Navboxes| title = Awards| bg = gold| fg = navy| list1 = {{CAF Most Promising Talent of the Year}}{{MLS Goal of the Year}}{{2014 MLS Best XI}}{{Chinese FA Cup top scorers}}}}{{Navboxes| title = Nigeria squads| bg = #008751| fg = White| bordercolor = | list1 = {{Nigeria squad 2006 Africa Cup of Nations}}{{Nigeria squad 2008 Africa Cup of Nations}}{{Nigeria squad 2010 Africa Cup of Nations}}{{Nigeria squad 2010 FIFA World Cup}}}}