World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez has revealed the reason behind his lewd celebration with the golden glove trophy at FIFA’s awards ceremony following Argentina’s World Cup win over France.
The Aston Villa goalkeeper, who could perhaps have done more to keep the French out in normal time, came up with a massive save in the dying seconds of extra-time to take the game to penalties, where he displayed his usual off-putting antics.
And they worked. Aurelian Tchouameni fired wide and Martinez kept out Kingsley Coman’s effort to hand the Albiceleste, and Lionel Messi, their long overdue World Cup win after coming so close in 2014.
Well, Emiliano Martinez’s tactics worked!#BBCFootball #BBCWorldCup pic.twitter.com/stwAJ4aDyR
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 19, 2022
It led to the Argentine goalkeeper, who also made two shootout saves against the Netherlands, scooping the golden glove award for the best goalkeeper at the tournament, seeing off competition from the likes of Dominik Livakovic and Yassine Bounou in the process.
And, while on stage, he made a questionable gesture with the trophy, with the Aston Villa shot-stopper since explaining why.
“I did it because the French booed me. Pride does not work with me”, he told Argentinian media channel La Red after the event.
“They had one last chance to win, luckily I was able to stop it with my foot [Randal Kolo-Muani’s last minute effort].”
“This is a moment I’ve always dreamed of living, I have no words for it. I left very young for England and I would like to dedicate this victory to my family.”
Martinez has also drawn attention for asking the Argentinian dressing room for a ‘minutes silence’ for Kylian Mbappe, who was ‘dead’ after his hat-trick ended up being in vein.
