Argentina’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez has caused quite a stir recently.Image: dpa / Tom Weller
World Cup 2022
After a dramatic final, Argentina won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar (4-2 on penalties). After regulation time, it went into extra time and finally into a penalty shoot-out. Argentina’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez played a key role in the fact that it came to this. At the end of extra time, Argentina and France were tied 3-3.
But there almost was a different outcome in the unique final. Eintracht Frankfurt star Randal Kolo Muani ran towards the goal and Emiliano Martínez just before the end of extra time. The chance for the French national team to make it 4:3 was within reach.
Martínez got a tattoo of the World Cup
But Martínez saved Kolo Muani’s shot and saved the ball with his left leg. In doing so, he ensured the game went to penalties – in which he helped Argentina win the title.
Emiliano Martínez was able to convince at the World Cup.Image: AP / Petr David Josek / dpa
After the victory of the Argentine national team, he now had the World Cup trophy tattooed. He chose a very special spot for the tattoo – the inside of his left calf.
“Que la pasión te lleve a la gloria” is the Spanish lettering, meaning “May passion lead you to glory”. He also had the updated three stars, representing the team’s three World Cup titles, etched over the trophy. He posted a photo of it in his story on Instagram.
Recently, Martínez caused a stir
Recently, Emiliano Martínez caused a stir on one or two occasions – including on penalties. The Argentine had the ball in his hands as Tchouaméni went for France’s third penalty. He went from the halfway line to the penalty spot. But instead of giving the ball to the Frenchman, Martínez threw it into the penalty area on the right.
At the award ceremony for the best goalkeeper of the tournament for which he was voted, he shocked with an obscene gesture. He held the golden glove, the trophy for the best goalkeeper award, to his genital area and made a face into a grimace.
It was the moment that Lionel Messi, Argentina and football fans around the world had to wait for a long time after the final whistle: the presentation of the World Cup trophy.
