Atlanta United’s Josef Martinez said “he felt something in my chest” when he saw a painting of him done by one of the team’s supporters after Sunday’s 1-0 win against LAFC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
After the game, as the players were walking to the locker room, Martinez veered to his left to meet the artist, Lindsay Jason, who carried her painting through a crowd at the stadium to give to him.
Credit: Atlanta United
Credit: Atlanta United
Martinez said he knew about the painting because she had texted him earlier.
Jason’s painting is of Martinez portrayed as the King of Spades on a playing card, with Martinez doing his “smoking” celebration. A sketch of Atlanta’s skyline is over his left shoulder. One of Martinez’s nicknames is The King.
“I don’t have a lot of words because I feel love for the people and I try to do my best,” he said. “Sometimes I don’t know the people know that we might score. Every game I might not get a goal, so I try do the best. She gave it to me. When I see that for the first time, I was surprised. It made me feel something in my chest. But I say thank you for the people who made something special for me.”
Jason, who is a student at Georgia studying Ecology with a minor in Spanish, said she wanted to try a large oil portrait of someone who is special to her, Atlanta United fans and those in Venezuela. It took her six days. After she finished, she posted the product on instagram. She said Martinez quickly responded. She responded, asking him if he would mind signing it.
Martinez signed the painting on Sunday and then gave Jason his game jersey. Jason said she’s worn the jersey since he gave it to her and is going to get it framed.
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