What happened: Josef Martínez entered as a substitute for Columbus Crew in the 71st minute against Charlotte FC, his first appearance for the club. Charlotte FC led 3-1 at the time of the substitution. The debut follows Columbus signing Martínez through the 2026 season.

Why it matters: The move reunites Martínez with Courtois, who previously coached him, giving Columbus Crew a new attacking option as it works through the current stretch of its 2026 campaign. Martínez's arrival adds a proven scorer to the Crew lineup as the club looks to respond on the field.

What to watch: Columbus will look for Martínez to make an early impact off the bench as the match against Charlotte FC continues.