Marcelo Moreno Martins scored a brace and made a very particular dedication to the Bolivia national team, eliminated from the World Cup
The legendary Bolivian forward Marcelo Moreno Martins, who returned after a long break to play with the hope of being called up to his country's national team for the playoff, was left with his bags packed because coach Óscar Villegas did not call him up to compete for World Cup qualification. Now, the goalscorer, who has returned to competition and is part of Oriente Petrolero, has not only returned to the field but with his two goals gave his team a 2-1 victory against Gualberto Villarroel San José, and his celebration, after being named player of the match, generated controversy.
TL;DR
- Marcelo Moreno Martins scored two goals for Oriente Petrolero in their 2-1 victory over Gualberto Villarroel San José.
- Martins was controversially left out of the Bolivian squad for the World Cup playoff by coach Óscar Villegas.
- He dedicated his goals to the team and stated that Bolivia lacked goals to qualify for the World Cup, blaming the coach for the elimination.
- Martins has scored 31 goals in 108 appearances for the Bolivian national team over a 17-year career.
- Bolivia was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup after losing the intercontinental playoff to Iraq.