Scotland legend Graeme Souness has become the latest to criticize Emiliano Martinez after Argentina won the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
The Albiceleste beat France on penalties, and the Aston Villa goalkeeper shone brightly.
His performances were impeccable, but his behavior left something to be desired as far as many are concerned.
“Much of the debate following the World Cup final has focused on the behavior of Argentina goalkeeper Martinez during the penalty shootout,” Souness wrote in the Daily Mail.
“I can accept those antics, up to a point. But what we should be talking more about is the rude gesture he made after collecting his trophy for best goalkeeper of the tournament.”
“Are there really people who find something like that funny? Martinez embarrassed himself and embarrassed his country. He looked like a vulgar clown. If that’s what he wants to be remembered for, god help us all.
“I like him as a goalkeeper, in Argentina and at Aston Villa. But that he thinks what he did was appropriate is unbelievable.
“I don’t understand why he decided to do that in front of everyone’s eyes […] What respect does he show for his hosts? Even for himself? Maybe he doesn’t care. Well, he should. He won’t be so proud in the years to come. Unfortunately, that image is now part of the history of the final.”
Martinez has also been criticized after he brought a small doll with French forward Kylian Mbappe‘s face on it and showed it off during the bus top celebrations in Buenos Aires.
Mbappe scored a hat-trick past Martinez in the World Cup final, two of those goals being penalties, but it was not enough for his side to become World champions for the second successive time.
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