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Wind-up merchant Emiliano Martinez was up to his usual, provoking antics as Argentina thrashed Brazil 4-1.
Getting on the wind-up is a speciality for Aston Villa and Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
The two-time Yashin Trophy winner is not only one of the best shot-stoppers on the planet but also one of the greatest taunters.
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Martinez famously jeered France superstar Kylian Mbappe on several occasions during the 2022 FIFA World Cup and celebrated his Golden Glove win by holding the award up to his midriff. He is also one of the best in the business at getting in penalty takers’ heads, saving nine of the 24 spot-kicks he has faced in Argentina colours and seeing another three fired either high or wide.
As soon as Argentina vs Brazil was approaching on the calendar, you just knew Martinez was getting himself primed to mock his opponents. It has always been a fiery fixture with the two serial World Cup winners historically the most successful teams in South America, but Martinez’s presence makes it all the more impassioned.
Both sets of players could not have been more fired up ahead of Tuesday night’s meeting in the World Cup qualifiers. Brazil’s Raphinha, a Ballon d’Or contender due to his fine form for Barcelona, claimed before the match that his side “would beat up” Lionel Scaloni’s side, prompting screenshots to be sent around the Argentina WhatsApp group chat for extra motivational fuel.
This led to Raphinha receiving dog’s abuse from the home Argentina fans from the very first minute. There was a big clash between Raphinha and Argentina defender Nicolas Otamendi just before half time, too, with Otamendi telling Raphinha to “talk less”.
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The jibes did not stop there as Brazil winger Rodrygo approached Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes to say, “You are very bad”. Paredes did not hesitate before brutally responding, “I have one World Cup and two Copa Americas, you have zero”.
Martinez then got in on the antics, taking on his usual pantomime villain role and putting his teammates’ efforts to shame with arguably the best taunt of the entire night. With Argentina 4-1 up, the goalkeeper received the ball and, instead of picking it up, began doing keepie-uppies on the edge of his own box.
Argentina boss Scaloni was far from impressed as he wagged his finger and ordered Martinez to continue play, but the goalkeeper laughed before eventually clearing the ball away. The travelling Brazil supporters - as well as the players - did not share the same enthusiasm as Villa’s number 23.
Unai Emery probably would not condone such behaviour either, but, then again, it is a big part of Martinez’s character and Villa’s head coach would not want to lose that. That was certainly the case after Martinez’s questionable World Cup final antics.
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When asked about Martinez’s behaviour back in December 2022, Emery said: “I will speak with him next week about some of the celebrations, but I respect, because he is under his national team.
“When he is going to be back with us and he is our responsibility, then we can speak about it. He won the World Cup with his national team and it is amazing, I think every fan of Aston Villa must be very proud of him.
“Of course, when you have big emotion, it is sometimes difficult to control it.”