Aside from Lionel Messi, Argentina also has their goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to thank for their FIFA World Cup victory in Qatar on Sunday.
The 30-year-old Aston Villa of England goalkeeper won the goalkeeper of the tournament award after making a penalty shootout save and two big stops in the game against France which includes a last minute one on one save at the end of extra time to push the game into penalty shootouts as Argentina went on to claim their third FIFA World Cup title.
Emi Martinez who made his national team debut at aged 29 last year, winning the Copa America and the Golden Glove at the same tournament had three clean sheets from six games before the final.
His remarkable journey to becoming a world cup winner, Copa America champion, and the Conmebol–Uefa Cup of Champions in the space of a year began when he joined Arsenal from his boyhood club Independiente in 2012.
His time at Arsenal didn’t go well as planned as he was loaned out to Oxford United, Sheffield United, Rotterdam, Wolves, Getafe and Reading over seven years.
Martinez got the opportunity to represent his parent club Arsenal after first choice goalie Bern Leno got injured in an Arsenal game Vs Brighton in June, 2020.
He was in goal as Arsenal lifted the FA cup for a record 14th time before sealing a loan move to Aston villa the following season after which his move was made permanently.
