Emiliano Martinez mocked FIFA World Cup 2022 Golden Boot winner Kylian Mbappe while the Argentina soccer team was celebrating the World Cup final win in their dressing room on Sunday.
The Argentina players were heard singing “a minute’s silence for” in tandem. They would all go silent for goalkeeper Martinez to shout: “For Mbappe who is dead!”
“A minute of silence for … Mbappe!” 😅
Emiliano Martinez during Argentina’s dressing room celebration.
(via nicolasotamendi30/Instagram) pic.twitter.com/dwm3IrUNWG
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 18, 2022
The Argentina and Aston Villa goalkeeper came clutch again in this World Cup with some more memorable moments. He made a dramatic point-blank last-ditch save to stop Randal Kolo Muani from scoring and sent the game to penalties. In the penalty shootout, he stopped Kingsley Coman’s spot kick that eventually helped the South American giants emerge champions of the world.
Argentina and France ended regulation time at 2-2. It ended 3-3 after extra time. The La Albicelste won the final on penalties 3(4)-3(2).
Mbappe, on the other hand, had the game of his life. He scored two goals in 97 seconds to get France level in normal time. A France that was absolutely out of the game, was revived by the 23-year-old. He scored a penalty in extra time to complete his hat trick and electrify the World Cup final. However, it was not meant to be this time for Lionel Messi’s Paris Saint-Germain teammate. Mbappe ended the tournament with eight goals and won the golden boot but missed out on winning a second straight title.
What did Kylian Mbappe say about South Americans that might have sparked the taunt against him?
The last four World Cup winners before Argentina’s 2022 triumph have been European. It included Mbappé’s France in 2018. The PSG striker made a few comments in May before the World Cup:
“The advantage we have in Europe is that we play among ourselves with high-level matches all the time, such as the Nations League. When we arrive at the World Cup, we are ready, whereas Brazil and Argentina do not have this level in South America. Football is not as advanced as in Europe. That’s why at the last World Cups, it’s always the Europeans who win.”
Martinez was asked about these comments in an interview before the final and the Villa man replied:
“He doesn’t know enough about football.”
“He never played in South America. When you don’t have this experience, it may be better not to talk about it. But it doesn’t matter. We are a great team, recognized as such.”
It could be that these comments made by Mbappe about South American football are what motivated Argentina. These comments could be the reason behind the taunts he received during Argentina’s celebrations.