Over the previous couple of years, Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has gained a fame for rubbing individuals up the flawed method.
Whether or not it is penalty antics or goading the group, the World Cup winner has made his fair proportion of enemies.
And with Villa in the midst of their Champions League quarter-final tie with Paris Saint-Germain, it would not be a shock to see the Argentinian rise up to his outdated tips with the stakes so excessive.
Certainly, as Villa travelled to Paris for the primary leg, the goalkeeper wore a hat denoting his worldwide honours, which embrace the World Cup victory secured towards France.
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However how has he irritated so many along with his performances and antics? Right here, we check out the moments that made Martinez one in every of soccer’s finest wind-up retailers.
1
Psyching out Yerry Mina
Argentina v Colombia, 2021 Copa America
Martinez took full benefit of an empty stadium on the pandemic-delayed Copa America in 2021 through the use of his taunting abilities to place off Yerry Mina throughout a tense semi-final penalty shootout.
With the scores locked at 1-1, Martinez hurled insults on the defender, saying: “You are nervous, huh? You are laughing however you are nervous. Yeah, yeah. You are nervous. You are nervous.
“Hey! The ball is forward [of the penalty spot]. Yeah, yeah. Flip a blind eye. I already know you.
“Hey, look. See how I do know the place you will shoot. After which I will reserve it. I am consuming you up, brother. I am consuming you up, brother.”
Martinez had efficiently flustered his opponent, and Colombia misplaced 3-2 on penalties, whereas Argentina went on to win the match with a 1-0 win over Brazil.
2
Winding up Ronaldo and teasing United followers
Man Utd v Aston Villa, 2021/22 Premier League
With Aston Villa holding on for what could be a historic victory at Outdated Trafford, these hopes have been left dangling by a thread when Man Utd have been awarded a stoppage-time penalty.
Not fazed by the scenario in any respect, Martinez ready his wind-up act.
With Bruno Fernandes showing favorite to take the kick, Martinez appeared to gesture in direction of Cristiano Ronaldo to take the kick himself, presumably to get in Fernandes’ head.
Fernandes was the one to finally step up however ballooned his shot over the bar, main Martinez to shake his hips on the devastated crowd so as to add insult to damage.
3
Dancing on the World Cup
Netherlands v Argentina, 2022 World Cup
Martinez introduced his post-penalty dancing to a world viewers when the Netherlands and Argentina met within the World Cup quarter-finals.
After a 2-2 attract regular time, the perimeters could not be separated within the additional interval, both – which meant it was time for Martinez to strut his stuff once more.
The Villa ‘keeper stored out Virgil van Dijk to get the shootout off to a flyer, earlier than repeating the trick with Steven Berghuis’ spot-kick.
The latter prompted La Albiceleste’s No 1 to rejoice with the followers, with the kicks being taken on the Argentina finish. He was later labelled “loopy” for his actions, however that did not cease him from repeating them within the ultimate.
4
Making crude gesture with the Golden Glove
Argentina v France, 2022 World Cup
Profitable the World Cup is a second of immense pleasure, however you may as well get carried away within the delirium of taking dwelling soccer’s greatest prize.
Emi Martinez fell sufferer to this within the shows following Argentina’s dramatic shootout win over France, throughout which he was handed the Golden Glove for being the perfect goalkeeper on the match.
Upon receiving the trophy, Martinez made a lewd gesture amongst a collection of post-match taunts, angering the French FA, which launched an official grievance towards his behaviour.
He had additionally referred to as for a minute’s silence for Kylian Mbappe within the dressing room after denying the hat-trick hero a second World Cup.
5
Battling fellow mischief-maker Neal Maupay
Brentford v Aston Villa, 2023/24 Premier League
Martinez vs Maupay is probably as box-office as it may get with regards to a sure kind of, let’s say ‘housery’.
And through a heated match between Brentford and Aston Villa within the 2023/24 Premier League, each gamers got here to blows as they tried to outdo one another.
The principle flashpoint between them got here when Maupay collided with Martinez when retrieving a ball that went out of play, with Martinez profiting from the contact.
Moments later, Maupay went down underneath even lighter contact from the goalkeeper, with Martinez trying to tug the Frenchman to his ft and Maupay virtually ending up along with his shirt over his head.
It was as farcical because it was entertaining.
6
Yellow card chaos (and extra crowd-teasing)
Lille v Aston Villa, 2023/24 Convention League
Martinez was the villain of the piece as soon as once more as Aston Villa prevailed within the Convention League quarter-finals.
Regardless of already being on a yellow card, the Villa shot-stopper wasted no time attending to work as soon as the sport entered a shootout.
As Nabil Bentaleb was stepping ahead to take Lille’s first penalty, Martinez made certain he acquired to the ball first, a lot to the annoyance of the house help – earlier than saving from the Algerian.
Martinez proceeded to brag by shushing the Lille trustworthy, who responded by hurling objects on the Argentinian.
The goalkeeper’s protestations – or provocations – because of the missiles led to a different yellow card from the referee, who had repeatedly warned Martinez he was on a tightrope.
Staying on the pitch resulting from a hardly ever seen rule concerning cautions not being carried over into penalty shootouts.
Not executed there, Martinez then saved a match-winning kick from Benjamin Andre, earlier than failing to withstand a ultimate celebratory jig within the course of the followers.
7
Scrapping with Jack Grealish
Aston Villa v Man Metropolis, 2024/25 Premier League
Jack Grealish did not get the perfect of receptions when he got here again to Villa Park with Manchester Metropolis earlier this season, handing Martinez an opportunity to gee up the house supporters.
Martinez took problem with Grealish after the previous Villa hero approached the referee to make a grievance, supposedly concerning the quantity of added time.
Grealish acquired a shove from the goalkeeper for his troubles, and after Martinez was booked for his position within the skirmish, the 2 gamers continued to commerce verbal blows down the tunnel.
Fortunately for Grealish, he isn’t the primary, nor the final, participant to let Martinez get underneath his pores and skin.