Four years ago, Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was a bench-warmer at Arsenal. He was sitting in the stands watching his idol Lionel Messi playing in the FIFA World Cup, but it was not to be, as the Argentines were eliminated in the Round of 16 against France. It wasn't until 2020 that an injury in Arsenal's goalkeeping department gave him his breakthrough and now, the goalkeeper is a FIFA World Cup winner.
Martinez has two people to thank for his steady rise to glory in the last two years — Former Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno, and former Brighton and Hove Albion striker Neal Maupay. Because it was a collision between the two players during a heated Premier League match between his then-club Arsenal and Brighton that gave the long-time Gunner his moment in the sun. And boy did he take his chances well!
Brought on as a replacement for Leno, it was the Argentine's first game for Arsenal in three seasons, and the expectations were low — or so the fans thought.
Martinez instantly made an impact. He started the remaining nine matches for his club and kept three clean sheets but after Leno's return from injury for the next season, Martinez was once again on the bench for Arsenal. By this time, he had tasted first-team football and was craving more. His time with the Gunners was eventful and he left the club on good terms, joining Premier League rivals Aston Villa. Martinez has not looked back since.
The 30-year-old shot-stopper finished the 2020-21 season — his first with Villa — on a high note. His 15 clean sheets were the third-best in the competition, four more than Arsenal's Leno himself. He went on to make his international debut in June 2021, and within a month, Martinez had won his first international trophy — the 2021 Copa America. The Villa goalkeeper was also awarded the 2021 Copa America's Golden Glove award as the best keeper of the tournament for his performances.
He was a hero in the semifinal of that very tournament, defeating Colombia in penalties, and after doing the same against the Netherlands in the Quarterfinals, Martinez entered the final shootout with utmost confidence, and this was evident with the mind games he played with the Frenchmen, which ultimately paid off.
He got a hand on Kylian Mbappe's penalty but the power on the shot was more than enough to take it into the goal. But from then on, it was his stage to shine.
Martinez jumped the right way to deny Kingsley Coman and then celebrated as he had already won the trophy, egging the fans on as the next Argentine walked up to take the penalty. Then came 22-year-old Aurelien Tchouameni, and Martinez did not spare the youngster as well.
As the Real Madrid youngster walked up to take his penalty, Martinez rolled the ball away from him, forcing him to have to walk over and collect it again. It was enough to break his concentration, as Tchouameni dragged his shot wide, as Martinez did a dance that can only be explained in unsavoury words for the French fans.
It was enough to take the Albiceleste to the brink of glory after 36 years, and after Randal Kolo Muani calmly converted his penalty, Gonzalo Montiel scored the goal that gave the fiery goalkeeper and his cooler friend Lionel Messi the coveted trophy that they have been craving.
