There’s no doubt that among Atlanta United fans, one of the best buddy stories going around is that between Miguel Almiron and Josef Martinez. As a duo, the perennially smiley Paraguayan striker and the tougher, hat-trick hero Venezuelan light up the squad, both on the field and off. When they’re not banging in goals to crowds of tens of thousands, though, they’re both known for sharing their latest musical finds with the rest of the team.
We caught up with both Martinez and Almiron to get an exclusive Spotify playlist of their current favorite tracks, and a little bit about who holds the aux cord as Atlanta warm up to hit the pitch.
What’s your earliest musical memory?
Josef Martinez: I grew up in Venezuela, and there we listened a lot to salsa. And my family’s Colombian, so in the neighborhood where I grew up, we listened to a lot of vallenato too. However, I personally love bachata and salsa.
Who has the best taste in music on the team?
Miguel Almiron: I think it’s me, because I always get to put the music on in the dressing room!
Martinez: Everyone has their own taste in music, but before a game, the selector’s always Miguelote and Tito Villalba.
Who has the worst taste?
Almiron: It’s Barquito [Ezequiel Barco].
Martinez: I tried to think of someone else, but actually, it’s impossible. It’s Barco. He has the worst taste.
What do you listen to before a game?
Almiron: We listen to a little bit of everything, but a lot of reggaeton — actually, reggaeton’s what you’ll hear the most of in the dressing room.
Martinez: As a group, we listen to a lot of reggaeton. But me personally, I put on a lot of samba.
What artists are you listening to right now?
Almiron: Right now I really like a group called Callejeros; they’re from Argentina. I listen to them all the time.
Martinez: I’m Venezuelan, so I have to say, the living legend, Nacho. To me, that’s the best there is. I just went to one of his concerts recently, and it was one of the best I’ve ever seen.
