Eugene Martínez (footballer, born 1997)

Eugene Chris Martínez (born 20 October 1997), also known as Pele Martínez, is a Belizean professional footballer who plays as a defender for the Belize national football team.

College career
In 2018, he began attending Cerritos College where he played for the men's soccer team. He scored his first collegiate goal on 27 August 2019 against the Fullerton Hornets. In 2018, he was named to the All-South Coast Conference Second Team. In 2018, he was named to the All-South Coast Conference First Team.

In 2021, he began attending California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, where he played for the men's soccer team. He scored his first goal on 2 September 2021 against the Point Loma Sea Lions. In 2022, he earned All-CCAA honorable mention honours.

Club career
Martínez spent the early part of his career in the Premier League of Belize, playing with Wagiya SC (2015–2016), Belmopan Bandits (2016–17), Dangria Youth Futbol Academy (2017), and Belize Defence Force FC (2017–18).

In 2018, Martínez played with L.A. Wolves FC in the United Premier Soccer League. In 2022, he began playing with Flash FC in the United Premier Soccer League, and in 2023 he helped them reach the semi-finals of the UPSL SoCal Regional Cup, scoring four goals.

In February 2023, Martínez signed with Vancouver FC of the Canadian Premier League, after participating in the club's open trials. He was named to the league's Team of the Week for the first time in May for Week 7. In June 2023, Martínez was suspended for three games after elbowing Cavalry FC player Roberto Alarcón in their match on June 11. In August 2023, he agreed to mutually terminate his contract with the club.

International career
While in high school, he attracted the attention of the Belize youth national team, playing with them and having plenty of success.

In 2022, he represented the Belize senior national team in the 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League B. He was again called up to the squad in March 2023, becoming Vancouver FC's first international player in the process.

Personal life
Martinez founded the Pele Soccer Foundation in his native country of Belize, which teaches youth the fundamentals of football, collects new clothes and equipment for the children, and instills the importance of pursuing an education.