Argentine goalie Martinez invites controversy exhibiting crude gesture
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Doha: The Argentina-France final match of the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar was historic. On Sunday night, Lionel Messi and his men won the trophy to the South American country after 36 years.
Argentina registered their victory in penalty shootouts after full-time, and extra time of the game kept the teams at a tie.
After the match, there were dramatic scenes as usual, but the one involving Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martine hasn't got much media coverage as it deserved or the coverage drowned in the victory of the team as well as Messi.
Martinez was in tears after the victory. He had made wonderful and successful efforts throughout the match, including a save during the penalty shootouts.
He approached Mbappe and comforted him on the ground, which was hailed by Argentine fans. Fans pulled up a six monthly old post by Mbappe, in which the French star says that South American football is not as advanced as European and that is why it is mostly European teams that win FIFA titles. Martinez's kind gesture towards Mbappe was therefore celebrated by fans.
However, Martinez brought out his shadiness in the dressing rooms. At the victory party, there he halted his teammates who were singing 'A minute Silence", and he chanted ", For Mbappe who is dead".
Further, at the award ceremony, Martinez was awarded the Adidas Golden Glow. After receiving it, he celebrated by exhibiting a crude gesture by humping the gloves. A TV commentator could be heard saying not to do so. His gesture caught controversy on social media.