Emiliano Martinez’s rivalry with Kylian Mbappe seems to have gone a bit too far with the Argentina goalkeeper constantly mocking the France forward. Martinez was extraordinarily hailed for his displays throughout the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which were key to his side’s triumph....CONTINUE READING
The 30-year-old even came up clutch in the final making a stunning save in the 120th minute of the extra-time to deny France a winner. And his penalty shootout heroics in the final against France need no new telling, as he saved one and saw one go wide to lead Argentina to glory.
However, Martinez hasn’t let-off Kylian Mbappe, who was close to spiling Argentina and Lionel Messi’s ultimate game. The 24-year-old scored a scintillating hat-trick in the final to drag his side from two goals down in the regular time and once again level the things in the extra-time.
The Argentina goalkeeper has mocked the 24-year-old in different ways, and has now received bashing for it from former France World Cup winner Adil Rami.
Adil Rami goes on a X-rated rant against Martinez for Kylian Mbappe mocking
Kylian Mbappe’s elite mentality was unparalleled in the final against Argentina, as his fellow teammates were run over by the South Americans. Argentina were already leading 2-0 after just 36 minutes, with goals from Lionel Messi and Angel di Maria.
However, Mbappe was so determined to not let this chance of winning a second World Cup in a row that he scored two goals in two minutes in the final ten minutes of the game to take the matters to the extra time.
When his PSG teammate Messi once again out Argentina into the lead in the 108th minute of the extra-time, Mbappe still hadn’t given up as he won and converted a penalty in the 118th minute to force a penalty shootout. His teammates Kingsley Coman and Aurelien Tchouameni then missed their spot-kicks in the shootout which paved the way for an Argentina victory, and devastation for Mbappe.
While Martinez first appeared to console the 2018 World Cup winner on the pitch, he then trolled him mercilessly during Argentina’s dressing room celebrations, calling for ‘a minute silence for Mbappe, who is dead’, which didn’t go down well with the footballing fraternity.
His next mockery was holding a baby doll with Mbappe’s face during open bus parade in Buenos Aires celebrating the triumph. Former France defender Adil Rami has now taken it to his Instagram to post a message for Martinez, wherein he captioned Aston Villa shot-stopper’s pic with:
“The biggest son of a […] in football. The most hated man.”
Rami’s sentiment will would surely resonate with those of French fans, who too were angry at the goalkeeper’s antics during the penalty shootout in the final.
Martinez worked a number of mind games, where he even threw the ball away from Tchouameni to make him walk an extra yard before taking his spot-kick, which apparently resulted in the Real Madrid firing the penalty wide off the target.
Argentina on the other hand took all their chance to put every penalty into the back of the net and walkaway with the World Cup trophy in their bag.
Also, Martinez bagged the Golden Glove alongside his teammates Messi winning the Golden Ball and 20-year-old midfielder Enzo Fernandez bagging the Young Player of the Tournament award.
Kylian Mbappe may have not won the World Cup trophy, but he too returned to France with the Golden Boot for having scored 8 goals, one more than Messi at the tournament.
