(Football news) A few years ago if you told Emiliano Martinez that he will not only win the World Cup but be the main protagonist, he would have laughed. Fast forward to 2022 and the Aston Villa man has done the unthinkable. He had to be patient for his career to kick off as Martinez spent eight years at Arsenal, going out on loan six times and playing just 11 Premier League games for the Gunners, before joining Villa two years ago since then he hasn’t looked back. Their have been many goalkeeping greats that have helped their country win the World Cup but Martinez arguably produced the greatest ever individual goalkeeping performance in a major tournament

After an enthralling, twisting, turning and emotionally draining 120 minutes and with the game level at 3-3, penalties were needed to determine football’s greatest prize. While Argentina’s penalty takers did their job by converting all four of their spot-kicks, Martinez was the real hero as he stepped up to break French hearts. Mbappe had earlier scored two penalties in the game so there was little surprise that he would convert France’s first penalty of the shootout, although Martinez was close to saving that. From then on, the Aston Villa goalkeeper took centre stage for his nerves of steel. He firstly went the right way again to deny Kingsley Coman, before the mind games started to further unsettle the French players.

When Aurelien Tchouameni walked to take his penalty, perhaps already feeling the weight of the excruciating final, Martinez rolled the ball away from the Real Madrid midfielder, forcing him to walk over and collect it. It was shithousery at its best as it had the desired effect when the 22-year-old Tchouameni dragged his penalty wide, prompting a dance similar to Alan Pardew’s mesmerising moves in Crystal Palace’s 2016 FA Cup final against Manchester United.

He channelled his inner Alan Pardew after Aurelien Tchouameni swept his penalty wide that eventually put Argentina within touching distance of a first World Cup since 1986. Although he will be remembered for the remarkable save that he made of Randal Kolo Muani when he almost scored with a scuff finish but Martinez had other ideas as he saved it with his feet. Emiliano Martinez deservedly won the best goalkeeper of the tournament helping Argentina keep clean sheets against Mexico, Poland and Croatia at the World Cup. In all honesty the game may have not even got to a shootout if not for a brilliant save by Martinez in the final seconds of extra time. He has certainly had a big impact in his short time with the national team ever since making his debut last year he has helped Argentina win the Copa America and now the World Cup.

“Emi Martinez is a very positive guy and told his team-mates he was going to save some penalties,”

revealed Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni.

“He was trying to wind them up, he was kicking the ball away, he was talking to the players, he was putting as much pressure as possible on them.”

Ex-England striker Alan Shearer added

“Even his movements behind the line, he was moving, trying to catch the eye of the person striking the ball.”

Former England defender Rio Ferdinand said

“I have no words for it. I was calm during the penalty shootout and everything went as we wanted. All that I have dreamed of has been achieved.”

Martinez said after Sunday’s final

Also read: Lionel Messi leads Argentina to World Cup glory with victory against France