Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez impressed during the World Cup with his saves, but also caused a sensation with his behavior around the won final. Kylian Mbappé in particular had to suffer, although the Argentinian now says that it was never intended personally.
“I never had the intention to hurt anyone,” Martínez said in an interview with the French magazine France Football, in which he looks back extensively at the events surrounding the World Cup final for the first time. Argentina won that final – despite three goals from Mbappé – on penalties.
Afterwards, Argentina’s players – and Martínez in particular – caused a stir by mocking Mbappé. FIFA launched an investigation into the misconduct, but no penalties have yet been handed out.
During the festivities in the dressing room, Martínez asked, among other things, for “a minute of silence for the deceased Kylian Mbappé”. “Those images should never have come out,” says the Aston Villa goalkeeper, who then points to other countries.
“In 2018 we lost to France and then in the dressing room we all heard songs about Messi. And if a team beats Brazil, they will sing about Neymar. It was nothing personal, just because he is the star of the team. I have a lot of respect for him.”
“It was an honor to play against Mbappé”
Even when he returned to Argentina, Mbappé continued to be the target of ridicule. For example, during the bus tour of Buenos Aires, the best goalkeeper of the tournament held up a doll with Mbappé’s face. “Many dolls were thrown at us, maybe a hundred,” Martínez defends.
“I held that puppet for two seconds and threw it back, that’s all. How could I make fun of Mbappé? He made a hat-trick against me in the final. He must think I’m his puppet.”
“After the final, I also said to Mbappé that it was an honor to play against him. He almost won the final single-handedly. That confirmed his qualities. If Messi retires, I am sure that Mbappé will have a lot of Ballon d’ Ors is going to win.”
Martínez also briefly discussed how he received the trophy for the best goalkeeper. In doing so, he kept the prize for his genitals. “I had already done that at the Copa América and my teammates said I wouldn’t do that again. I did it for them.”
