Emi Martinez was understandbly visibly emotinal after his penalty-shoot-out heroics in Argentina's victory over France.
Once again for his country, Emi Martinez was the hero when it came to penalties as he saved Kinslay Coman's penalty to help Argentina to their first World Cup since 1986.
TFW you win a World Cup final penalty shootout 🏆🏆🏆
📺 Reaction live on @RTE2 and @RTEplayer https://t.co/2W5kFtUgZE
📱 Updates:https://t.co/YkNdmauNZh#ARGFRA pic.twitter.com/Ce8lA42IX1— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) December 18, 2022
There is so many hero's in this Aregntina side. Lionel Messi has now completed football after today's heroics as he picks up the missing piece of his remarkable footballing career.
After coming so close in 2014, and heartbreaking defeats in Copa America, hs now has a World Cup medal in a fairytale end to his international career.
Today was a rollercoaster of emotions for all involved. Goals from Messi and Angel Di Maria had Argentina cruising, with France looking dead and buried for 75 minutes.
However, a quickfire double from Kylian Mbappe had them level, and looked like they would go on to win their second consecutive World Cup.
Messi's second in extra-time looked to seal it, but Mbappe scored another penalty to draw France level and bring it to penalties.
Martinez heroics from his save to his mind games, combined with Montiel's winning penalty sealed the victory for Argentina.
🇦🇷 *3-3 🇫🇷
Montiel, who conceded a penalty late in extra-time, wins the World Cup for Argentina in the shootout! 🏆🏆🏆
📺 Reaction live on @RTE2 and @RTEplayer https://t.co/2W5kFtUgZE
📱 Updates: https://t.co/YkNdmauNZh#ARGFRA pic.twitter.com/cLsBDiFhII— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) December 18, 2022
The Rise Of Emi Martinez
If you ask Messi himself, he wouldn't have been able to do this without Emi Martinez, who's rise to become the starting goalkeeper of the world champions is something special.
After impressing with Arsenal, Aston Villa signed him in 2020, where his performances led him to his international debut in 2021.
Since then, he led them to Copa America, a 36 game unbeaten run going into the tournament, and is now part of a historic World Cup winning team.
While he may have conceded three goals, Martinez made crucial saves, including at the end of extra-time, to keep Messi and Argentina's dream alive.
Speaking after the game, Emi Martinez was visibly emotional as it was clear how much today meant to him.
Argentina 3 - 3 (4-2) France | Emi Martínez post-match interview #Messi𓃵 #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/9WQnlCnaqQ
— SkillBallers (@Skill_Ballers) December 18, 2022
It was a suffered game. We had it under control, then all of a sudden it all went against us. It seems the team were doomed to suffer.
We were 3-2 up, and then another penalty and then they almost scored their winner, but thanks be to god we are here. This is beyond my dreams, I have no words to express my feelings.
I told all my friends and colleagues Messi would scoreI want to dedicate it to all my family, we come from very humble background."
In a day that is likely to be remembered for decades to come for so may reasons. From Messi's magic, to the hat-trick of Mbappe, to the determination of the France team to come back from the dead, today's final capped off an unforgettable tournament.
Emi Martinez, who produced crucial saves at vital moments of the tournament for Argentina, will always be remembered by Argentina fans.
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