Lionel Messi has paid a huge tribute to Argentina's World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, labelling him 'the beast' as the South American champions look ahead to defending their title next summer.
The 'Beast' That Secured Glory
In an interview with ESPN, Messi reflected on Argentina's dramatic victory over France in the December 2022 final, one of the most thrilling deciders in the tournament's history. Argentina seemed destined for a comfortable win when leading 2-0 with just ten minutes remaining, only for a stunning Kylian Mbappe double to force extra time.
Messi then scored his second goal of the match to restore Argentina's lead, but a second Mbappe penalty levelled the scores once more, sending the final to a penalty shootout. Messi was quick to highlight the crucial role played by Aston Villa's Martinez, whose vital late saves kept Argentina in the game before his heroics from the spot.
'In the last one, we were lucky that, even though we were the better team in both the Netherlands and France, we had to go to penalties, and there we had the beast that was Dibu who made us win,' Messi stated, using Martinez's popular nickname.
Messi's Hopeful Ambition for 2026
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner admitted that winning a World Cup involves a significant slice of fortune, acknowledging that 'the ball can hit the post and go in or out'. While he stopped short of a definitive confirmation, the 38-year-old icon expressed a strong desire to be part of the squad for the 2026 finals, which will be hosted across the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
'I hope I can be there. I've said before that I'd love to be there,' Messi revealed. 'At worst, I'll be there watching it live, but it will be special.' He added that the current Argentina group remains fiercely determined, saying, 'This group is going to try again, they're going to give it their all and fight.'
Martinez's Own Excitement Builds
The goalkeeper himself has been speaking about the upcoming tournament, with the all-important World Cup 2026 draw taking place on Friday. Martinez confessed to feeling even more anticipation for this edition than the last.
'Most of us who have played in a World Cup have the butterflies in their stomach, a feeling that is difficult to explain, but I'm more excited about this one than the previous one,' said the Aston Villa star. He emphasised that representing his country remains the pinnacle, above any club honour.
'Winning individual titles or titles with my club is like the icing on the cake, but the real highlight of my entire career has always been playing for the Argentina national team,' Martinez affirmed. 'When I play for the national team, I feel like the ball just won't go in. I have the whole country and my family behind me.'
