Emiliano Martinez: All improper gestures that made turned fans against him

• Emiliano Martinez has been the subject of controversy since his World Cup win with Argentina
• The Aston Villa shot stopper engaged in some controversial antics which have not sat well with a number of people in the football world
• Unai Emery, the Aston Villa boss, is set to hold talks with the goalkeeper about ‘containing his emotions’

Argentina and Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has gone from a World Cup hero to a controversial figure in only a matter of days.

It all has to do with his recent antics, which have been thoroughly criticized across the football world.

On Sunday, December 18, Martinez was among the heroes for his country as he helped them pull off a World Cup triumph for the first time since 1986.

After both teams could not be separated after 120 minutes, it went down to a penalty shootout and the Aston Villa man saved what proved to be a decisive spot-kick.

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What has ensued in the subsequent days since his heroics is a series of antics from Martinez, which have overshadowed his legacy for his nation. Sports Brief takes a look at some of his actions that have led to the football world looking at him differently.

Waved a doll with Mbappe’s face in a crowd

For some reason, Martinez has been very vocal in taunting Kylian Mbappe, despite the Frenchman scoring a hat trick at a World Cup final.

During Argentina’s celebrations in Buenos Aries, the Golden Glove winner taunted Mbappe by holding a doll with the PSG star’s face in it.

Aimed a dig at Aurélien Tchouaméni

More sensationally, Martinez addressed fans during the celebrations in Buenos Aries where he openly faulted France star Tchouameni for missing a penalty.

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“When I save the first penalty in the final, I know that the other boy was going to be very nervous. I tried to play him mentally by throwing the ball away, talking to him... And he missed the goal, he f*cked it all.” He said as quoted on GOAL.

Called for a minute’s silence

Once again, Martinez’s next dig was aimed at Kylian Mbappe as the goalkeeper was heard asking for an ironic ‘minute’s silence’ for Mbappe in the dressing room almost immediately Argentina won the World Cup.

As per Standard.co.uk, Argentina’s players dancing around the dressing room and singing “a minute’s silence for”, before leaving a gap for Martinez to shout: "For Mbappe who is dead!"

Inappropriate gesture with his golden glove

There were signs Martinez would be overcome with emotion immediately after his team’s victory as he was responsible for a nasty gesture with his own accolade, the Golden Glove.

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He placed the silverware in his crotch area and made a gesture towards France fans, and later said he had the last laugh because the French fans had taunted him initially.

Vieira on Martinez’s gestures

Sports Brief also reported on how Patrick Vieira claimed Martinez’s antics may have taken some shine off Argentina’s emphatic World Cup win.

"Some of the pictures that I saw from the Argentina goalkeeper took away a little bit from what Argentina achieved at the World Cup. I don’t think that they really needed that. You can’t control sometimes people’s emotions or decisions, but that was a stupid decision from Martinez to do that.” He said.

Viera also admitted Kylian Mbappe is just getting started and will have the world at his feet for a long time after his impressive showing at the 2022 World Cup.