Martinez named MLS Player of the Week

March 11, 2018.  Atlanta United forward Josef Martinez #7 pics up the ball inside the goal after scoring the first goal of the team on March 11, 2018 in Atlanta Ga..

Credit: Miguel Martinez

Credit: Miguel Martinez

March 11, 2018. Atlanta United forward Josef Martinez #7 pics up the ball inside the goal after scoring the first goal of the team on March 11, 2018 in Atlanta Ga..

Atlanta United’s Josef Martinez was named the MLS Player of the Week on Tuesday. The striker had a hat trick in Atlanta United’s 4-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday.

Martinez has four career hat tricks - in just 23 MLS games - and is just one away from tying the league record for three-goal games in a career.

Martinez has a league-leading four goals this season. He had 19 goals and one assist last season, the inaugural season for Atlanta United. He won Player of the Week and Player of the Month twice last season, the only player to win the monthly award twice. He was a finalist for the MLS Newcomer of the Year award last season.

Atlanta United is off this week. It returns to play on March 31 at Minnesota United, the team Martinez scored his first hat trick against last season.