Last Updated on September 27, 2026 by Siara Costa
Josef Martínez is a Venezuelan professional footballer who plays as a striker for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer and has represented the Venezuela national team. Born Josef Alexander Martínez Mencia on May 19, 1993, in Valencia, Venezuela, he has enjoyed one of the most successful MLS careers of any Venezuelan player, representing Atlanta United, Inter Miami, CF Montréal, San Jose Earthquakes and Columbus Crew.
Behind Martínez’s football success is a family story shaped by hard work, modest circumstances and particularly strong relationships with his grandparents. Josef has said that his grandparents, José and Andrea, effectively helped raise him alongside his sister and a cousin while his parents worked. His Colombian-born grandparents settled in Venezuela before Josef was born, creating the family environment in Valencia that eventually produced one of Major League Soccer’s most prolific goalscorers.
Josef Martínez’s Wife or Girlfriend
Josef Martínez keeps his romantic life extremely private.
As of now, no reliable current source from Columbus Crew, Major League Soccer, the Venezuela national team or an established interview with Martínez publicly identifies a wife or girlfriend.
Over the years, unofficial websites and gossip-oriented publications have occasionally connected Martínez with different women. However, those reports have generally lacked direct confirmation from the player or another authoritative source.
Because of that, it would be misleading to identify someone definitively as Josef Martínez’s wife or current girlfriend without stronger evidence.
Martínez has consistently spoken much more openly about his grandparents, parents, sister and extended family than about his romantic relationships.
Is Josef Martínez Married?
There is no sufficiently reliable current public confirmation that Josef Martínez is married.
Some online reports have made claims about a private marriage, but those claims have not been independently supported by dependable football or mainstream media sources.
As of now, his marital status should therefore be treated as private rather than presented as established fact.
Does Josef Martínez Have Children?
There is no reliable current confirmation that Josef Martínez has children.
In an earlier interview during his Atlanta United career, Martínez directly stated that he did not have children at that time. He explained that he loved children and said he regarded his niece almost as if she were his daughter.
That interview provides reliable information about his situation at the time, but it should not automatically be used to describe his family circumstances many years later.
More recent authoritative football coverage has not publicly confirmed that Martínez has become a father.
For that reason, the most accurate description as of now is that Josef Martínez has no publicly confirmed children.
Josef Martínez’s Parents
Josef Martínez was born to Venezuelan parents in Valencia, Carabobo.
The names of his mother and father have not been consistently documented by strong public sources, even though Martínez has spoken about them on several occasions.
He has explained that both parents worked hard when he was young. Because of their work responsibilities, much of Josef’s daily upbringing was handled by his grandparents.
That arrangement created an especially strong relationship between Martínez and his grandparents, but it should not be interpreted as meaning his parents were absent from his life.
Josef has repeatedly included his mother and father when discussing the relatives whose work ethic shaped his understanding of sacrifice and responsibility.
Josef Martínez’s Father
The name of Josef Martínez’s father has not been reliably established in major public football sources.
Martínez has nevertheless referred publicly to his father as part of the hardworking family environment in which he grew up.
Some profiles of his childhood have also reported that his father played as a goalkeeper and that Josef initially imagined himself becoming a goalkeeper as well before his talent as an attacking player became clear.
However, detailed information about his father’s playing level, occupation or personal history has remained limited.
Josef himself has generally preferred to describe his parents collectively rather than placing them individually in the media spotlight.
Josef Martínez’s Mother
The identity of Josef Martínez’s mother also remains largely private.
Her surname is reflected in Josef’s full name, Josef Alexander Martínez Mencia, but her full name should not be inferred simply from the player’s maternal surname.
Martínez has spoken about his mother as one of several family members who had to work hard to build a life in Venezuela.
Because both parents worked while Josef was young, his grandparents became particularly important figures in his everyday childhood.
Josef Martínez’s Grandfather: José
The most influential publicly documented male figure in Josef Martínez’s childhood is his grandfather José.
Martínez has described José as the “star” of the family and has spoken about him with enormous affection.
José was originally from Colombia before relocating to Venezuela with his wife and establishing the family in Valencia.
He worked as a bricklayer, spending long hours building houses, shops and other structures.
Despite the demanding physical work, football remained one of his great passions.
How Josef’s Grandfather Introduced Him to Football
Football was not Venezuela’s dominant sport during Josef’s childhood. Baseball traditionally attracted enormous attention, but José preferred football.
His grandfather had wanted to become a footballer when he was younger and regularly watched matches on television.
Martínez has recalled sitting around the family’s old television while his grandfather constantly analyzed games, criticized players and discussed what they should have done differently.
Those experiences exposed Josef to football long before he became a professional.
He has described José as highly opinionated about the game, but also as someone whose passion helped establish football as a major part of Josef’s childhood.
Josef Martínez’s Grandmother: Andrea
Josef Martínez’s grandmother was named Andrea.
Like José, she was originally from Colombia before the couple established their lives in Venezuela.
Andrea operated a small shop beneath the family’s home in Valencia known as “La Bodega de la Señora Andrea.”
The store sold everyday items such as fruit and snacks to neighborhood families.
Martínez remembers his grandmother spending long days in the shop, talking with customers while music played on the radio.
The bodega became an important part of his childhood environment and also reflected the modest economic circumstances in which the family lived.
Josef Martínez Was Raised by His Grandparents
Martínez has said that José and Andrea raised him, his sister and one of his cousins while his parents were occupied with work.
The three children spent much of their time around their grandparents, balancing school with family life in Valencia.
Josef has consistently described that childhood with affection despite the financial difficulties the household sometimes experienced.
The family did not have significant financial resources, and there were periods when even transportation to football training could become difficult.
Those experiences later influenced Martínez’s determination to build a professional career and improve the lives of the relatives who had supported him.
Josef Martínez’s Family’s Colombian Roots
Although Josef Martínez was born in Venezuela and has represented Venezuela internationally throughout his senior career, part of his family story begins in Colombia.
His grandparents José and Andrea were Colombian.
Martínez has explained that they experienced difficult circumstances in Colombia before eventually moving to Venezuela and making it their home.
Their experiences shaped the lessons they passed to Josef about effort, discipline and appreciating opportunities.
He has said that watching how hard his relatives worked taught him that nothing could be taken for granted.
Josef Martínez’s Sister
Josef Martínez has at least one sister.
He directly confirmed this in his Players’ Tribune account of his childhood, explaining that his grandparents raised him, his sister and a cousin together in Venezuela.
Martínez has not publicly identified his sister by name in the strongest available family sources.
She has therefore remained considerably more private than her famous brother.
The footballer’s references to her show that the two were part of the same close family unit during childhood.
Does Josef Martínez Have Other Siblings?
Martínez has occasionally referred broadly to his siblings when speaking about the members of his family who work hard.
However, the strongest first-person account of his childhood specifically identifies one sister.
Reliable public reporting does not provide enough information to name additional brothers or sisters with confidence.
For that reason, it is safest to say that Josef has at least one publicly confirmed sister while leaving the wider sibling structure unconfirmed.
Josef Martínez’s Niece
Another important member of Josef Martínez’s extended family is his niece.
During his Atlanta United years, Martínez discussed his affection for children and explained that although he did not have children himself at the time, he regarded his niece almost like his own daughter.
His comment offered one of the rare insights into his private relationships outside football.
The niece’s name has not been reliably established through authoritative public sources, and there is no reason to identify her unnecessarily because she is a private family member.
Josef Martínez’s Cousin
Martínez also grew up closely with one of his cousins.
His grandparents raised Josef, his sister and the cousin together, meaning the three children shared much of their upbringing in the same Valencia household.
Like his sister, the cousin has remained outside the public spotlight.
What matters most in Josef’s own account is that the household operated as a close extended family rather than simply a traditional parents-and-children arrangement.
The Martínez Family’s Financial Struggles
Josef Martínez has spoken openly about experiencing financial hardship as a child.
When he joined the Centro Italo soccer program at around nine years old, training took place far from his home.
There were days when money was so limited that he had to choose between buying food and paying for transportation home.
If he bought food, he sometimes faced a journey of several hours on foot.
If he paid for transportation, he risked returning home hungry.
Martínez later explained that those experiences helped develop the resilience he carried into professional football.
Why Josef Martínez Wanted to Become a Professional
Becoming a professional footballer was never only about personal success for Martínez.
When he received the opportunity to move from Venezuela to Young Boys in Switzerland in 2012, he viewed the transfer as a chance to help his family financially.
Leaving Venezuela at 18 meant moving far away from the relatives who had raised him, but Martínez believed the opportunity could change their circumstances.
His difficult upbringing also meant that the uncertainty of moving abroad did not intimidate him as much as it might have other young players.
Josef Martínez’s Family and His Move to Europe
Martínez left Caracas FC for Young Boys in Switzerland at the beginning of 2012.
He later spent time with FC Thun before moving to Torino in Italy in 2014.
The European stage of his career required adapting to different languages, climates and football cultures.
Throughout those years, supporting his family remained one of his motivations.
Martínez eventually spent three seasons with Torino before Major League Soccer presented another opportunity.
Josef Martínez’s Atlanta United Family
When Martínez joined Atlanta United in 2017, the idea of family became closely associated with his relationship with the club.
He developed particularly strong friendships with teammates, including Miguel Almirón, whom he described as being more than a teammate and effectively part of his family.
Almirón became close enough to Martínez that he also spent time with Josef’s grandfather José.
Martínez has described how José would even analyze Almirón’s game and give the Paraguayan midfielder football advice.
Those stories showed how Josef’s biological family and his football relationships became closely connected during his years in Atlanta.
Josef Martínez’s Grandfather in Atlanta
José regularly spent time with Josef in Atlanta during his grandson’s most successful MLS years.
This allowed the man who had introduced Martínez to football in Valencia to witness his grandson become one of the league’s biggest stars.
Martínez’s rise included the 2018 MLS Golden Boot, the league MVP award and an MLS Cup championship with Atlanta United.
The achievements represented a remarkable journey from the modest household José and Andrea had created in Venezuela.
Josef Martínez’s Career After Atlanta
Martínez left Atlanta after the 2022 season following six years with the club.
He joined Inter Miami in 2023 and helped the team win the Leagues Cup.
He then represented CF Montréal in 2024 and San Jose Earthquakes in 2025.
Martínez scored 14 MLS goals for San Jose during the 2025 season, demonstrating that he remained an effective scorer well into his thirties.
He began 2026 with Club Tijuana in Mexico before returning to Major League Soccer later that year.
Josef Martínez Joins Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew signed Josef Martínez as a free agent on August 13, 2026.
His contract is guaranteed through the end of the 2026 season and includes a club option for the 2027 MLS Sprint Season.
At the time of the signing, Martínez had scored 130 regular-season MLS goals, placing him among the leading scorers in league history.
Columbus brought him in to add experience, leadership and proven goalscoring ability to its attacking group.
Josef Martínez’s Family Life Today
As of now, Josef Martínez continues to protect substantial parts of his private life.
The names of his parents have not been reliably established in major public sources, although Josef has frequently acknowledged their hard work and the sacrifices they made.
His grandparents José and Andrea are the relatives he has discussed most extensively. They were Colombian, settled in Venezuela and helped raise Josef, his sister and a cousin while his parents worked.
José worked as a bricklayer and introduced Josef to a love of football, while Andrea operated a neighborhood bodega beneath the family home.
Josef has at least one sister and has also spoken lovingly about a niece whom he once described as being like a daughter to him.
Reliable current sources do not publicly confirm a wife, girlfriend or children.
What is firmly established is that family has remained one of Martínez’s central motivations throughout his career. From leaving Venezuela in an effort to help his relatives financially to building one of the most successful MLS careers of his generation, Josef’s journey has remained closely connected to the people who raised him in Valencia.
Frequently Asked Questions About Josef Martínez’s Family
Who is Josef Martínez’s girlfriend?
Josef Martínez has not publicly confirmed a current girlfriend through reliable recent sources. His romantic life remains private as of now.
Is Josef Martínez married?
There is no sufficiently reliable current public confirmation that Josef Martínez is married.
Does Josef Martínez have children?
No children have been reliably confirmed by strong current sources. In a 2018 interview, Martínez explicitly said he had no children at that time and described his niece as being like a daughter to him.
Who are Josef Martínez’s parents?
The full names of Josef Martínez’s parents have not been reliably established in major public sources. Josef has said that both parents worked while he was young and that his grandparents therefore played a major role in raising him.
Who is Josef Martínez’s father?
Josef Martínez has discussed his father but has not widely publicized his name. Some profiles report that his father played goalkeeper, which influenced Josef’s early interest in that position.
Who is Josef Martínez’s mother?
Josef’s mother has maintained a private public profile. Her full name and occupation have not been reliably documented by major football sources.
Who is Josef Martínez’s grandfather?
His grandfather is José, a Colombian-born bricklayer who moved to Venezuela and became one of the biggest influences on Josef’s childhood and love of football.
Who was Josef Martínez’s grandmother?
Josef’s grandmother was Andrea. She ran a small neighborhood store known as La Bodega de la Señora Andrea beneath the family home in Valencia.
Were Josef Martínez’s grandparents Colombian?
Yes. Josef has personally confirmed that both grandparents were originally from Colombia before making Venezuela their home.
Does Josef Martínez have siblings?
Yes. Josef has directly confirmed at least one sister. Reliable sources do not provide enough information to establish the names and number of any additional siblings.
Does Josef Martínez have a niece?
Yes. Martínez publicly spoke about his niece during his Atlanta United years and said he loved her as though she were his daughter.
Who raised Josef Martínez?
Josef has said that his grandparents José and Andrea played the primary day-to-day role in raising him, his sister and a cousin while his parents worked.
Where is Josef Martínez’s family from?
Martínez was born and raised in Valencia, Venezuela. His grandparents were originally Colombian before settling in Venezuela.
Does Josef Martínez play for Columbus Crew?
Yes. As of now, Josef Martínez is a Columbus Crew striker. He joined the club as a free agent on August 13, 2026, on a contract guaranteed through the 2026 season with an option for the 2027 MLS Sprint Season.
Siara Costa is a football editor and writer covering both European men’s and women’s football, with a focus on league competitions, match coverage, and in-depth storytelling.
