Emi Martinez Reveals Messi as Reason He Would Attend FIFA Best Awards

• Argentina lifted the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and the ripple effects are still happening
• Lionel Messi, Emiliano Martinez and Lionel Scaloni have all been nominated for FIFA Best Awards in different categories
• The goalkeeper reveals his decision to attend the event was influenced by his national team captain

Lionel Messi got the final piece of his illustrious career when he led Argentina to win the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup last December, beating former champions France on penalties in the final.

Messi enjoyed the support of influential team members, including the best young player Enzo Fernandez and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez who was awarded the tournament's best player.

The trio of Lionel Messi, head coach Lionel Scaloni and Martinez are nominated in different categories of the FIFA Best Awards, as reported by ESPN.

Martinez reveals Messi's influence

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The FIFA Best Awards event will be held in Paris, where Messi plays for PSG. Dibu, as the goalkeeper is fondly referred to, revealed he would attend because of Messi, as reported by AlbicelesteTalk.

“Am I going to the FIFA Best ceremony? If they [Messi and Scaloni] wouldn’t go, why would I go? So I asked Messi if he’s going and he told me: ‘Yes, yes [I’m going] it’s in Paris’ - So well I’m going too. I really wish Leo wins it and so does Scaloni,” he said.

The trio have a chance to win it as FIFA awards are tilted towards winners of FIFA events. They are favourites ahead of the Real Madrid trio of Carlo Ancelotti, Karim Benzema and Thibaut Courtois.

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“What happens if all three of us win? It would be something very nice and I think it’ll be the first time that all three awards will go to one country,” he added.

Martinez explains Kolo Muani save

Arguably the most remarkable moment for Argentina at the World Cup was when Martinez saved a shot from France striker Randal Kolo Muani with seconds left on the clock.

As Sports Brief earlier reported, Dibu explained how he made the save from the Eintracht Frankfurt striker, which took the match to penalties which La Albiceleste won.

He claimed he reckoned the French player would hit the ball on a volley, so he opened his body to make himself big, and luckily it hits his thigh.