'He must think I am his toy baby' - Emiliano Martinez denies mocking Kylian Mbappe in World Cup celebrations

ByEurosport

Published 11/02/2023 at 13:45 GMT

Emiliano Martinez says he did not intend to offend Kylian Mbappe when he held up a baby doll with the Frenchman's face on it during Argentina's World Cup celebrations on an open top bus parade through Buenos Aires. The Aston Villa goalkeeper insists he has "great respect" for the Paris Saint-Germain forward and also said he would not be repeating some of his celebrations.

Emiliano Martinez has denied he intentionally mocked Kylian Mbappe during Argentina's World Cup celebrations in December.

The goalkeeper was one of Argentina's heroes in the penalty shoot-out in the World Cup final in Qatar, saving a penalty from Kingsley Coman to help his nation to their third World Cup title.

Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick and a penalty in the shoot-out in the final. Martinez insists he has "huge respect" for the tournament's Golden Boot winner, despite being pictured holding a doll with the Frenchman's face on it during an open top bus parade through Buenos Aires.

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“I held it for like two minutes and I threw it away, that’s all," he told L'Equipe.

"How can I make fun of Mbappe? He scored four past me. Four goals in a final! He must think I am his toy baby I have huge respect for Mbappe."

Martinez said he spoke with Mbappe after the final and the Aston Villa goalkeeper explained what was said.

"I told him he should be proud of himself and keep his head high," he said. "Because he played a fantastic game and that he was one of the best players in the world. He was flying, we could not stop him."

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Shortly after the final Mbappe refused to be drawn on whether Martinez was mocking him.

He said in December: “I don't waste any energy on such futile things. What's important for me is to give the best of myself for my club, and we're looking forward for Leo (Messi) to return to continue scoring and winning matches."

Martinez caused more controversy when he held the Golden Glove trophy by his crotch, but he says he did not mean to cause any offence through his celebrations.

Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martinez was booked for his unsportsmanlike antics during the World Cup 2022 final

Image credit: Getty Images

"Do I regret the celebrations? Well, there are things I wouldn't do again in the same way," he said.

"I didn't set out to hurt anyone. Throughout my career, I've played with French people and I've never had a problem... you can ask [Olivier] Giroud what kind of person I am. I really like the French culture and mentality.

"The gesture I made with the best goalkeeper trophy was a joke with my team-mates. I had already done it at the Copa America, and they all said to me: 'No way' to do it again.

"Even Leo [Messi] told me that. I did it for them, nothing more. It lasted a second and that was it."

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