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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Dan Marsh

Emi Martinez celebrated World Cup award win with lewd gesture in front of Qatari officials

Emiliano Martinez landed the coveted Golden Glove award after Argentina won the World Cup final - and then celebrated with a crude gesture in front of unimpressed Qatari officials.

Martinez, 30, played a monumental role in Argentina's triumph over France in an epic finale at the Lusail Stadium on Sunday. Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria had fired Lionel Scaloni's side into a 2-0 lead before a rapid double from Kylian Mbappe forced extra-time.

Messi keep his cool to nudge the Albiceste back in front with just 12 minutes remaining, but Mbappe completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot to rescue France again.

But in a tense penalty shootout, Martinez was once again the hero for Argentina. Following on from his remarkable exploits in the quarter-final victory over Netherlands, the Aston Villa shot-stopper denied Kingsley Coman before his mind games had the desired affect on young midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, who dragged his spot-kick wide.

After a tearful Martinez had celebrated the victory with his ecstatic teammates, he landed another accolade as he was crowned as the best goalkeeper of the tournament.

But the former Arsenal man raised eyebrows with Qatari officials standing nearby after he placed the trophy, a giant gold hand, to his groin before emphatically waving it up above his head during the post-match celebrations.

Join the debate! What did you make of Sunday's epic World Cup final between Argentina and France? Let us know here.

Emiliano Martinez celebrated with a lewd gesture after landing the coveted Golden Glove award following the World Cup final (Jose Breton/NurPhoto)

Martinez cut a far more emotional figure when he looked back on the match. He said: "It's a moment that I always have to give to my teammates, they kicked me three times again and scored three goals, but then I did everything right."

Before his starring role in the shootout, Martinez made a huge save in the final moments of extra-time to keep Argentina's World Cup hopes alive after France substitute Randal Kolo Muani had been played in on goal.

Martinez made a big save with his outstretched leg to force the match into a penalty shootout. The rest, as they say, is history for a man who was on the fringes of the Arsenal team as recently as three years ago.

But after starring in an FA Cup triumph and becoming a Premier League regular, Martinez has now cemented his spot in Argentina folklore after being a world champion.

He added: "A game of suffering, two s***ty shots and they tied us. One thing we said was that it was destiny to suffer, we got 3-2, they charge us another penalty, thank God I took that foot out.

"Then I did my thing, what I dreamed of, there could not be a World Cup that I have dreamed of so much."

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