The greatest of all time and the man behind it.

The talk about the greatest of all time is over. But it's probably not who you think.

image credit: planetsport.com

So that’s it. The 2022 edition of the World Cup is over and (SPOILER ALERT) Argentina were crowned champions for the third time.

A lot was made going into this tournament about waning powers of two of the greatest players to ever play the game, Messi and Ronaldo. It was to be both players' last dance at the greatest tournament in the world. 

The one piece of silverware, or gold to be more accurate, that had evaded both players in their careers. Neither Argentina nor Portugal had brilliant teams travelling to Qatar in comparison to teams they had taken to previous World Cups. But both teams had a talisman who, on their day, could win games single-handedly.

The Great GOAT Debate of the 21st century has divided the opinion of everyone who has even a passing interest in the beautiful. Ronaldo or Messi. Messi or Ronaldo. 

If one player should win the World Cup this year, surely they would be confirmed as the best of their generation. No questions asked. It would be undeniable even to the most ardent of supporters of the other. 

One player made it to the World Cup final, one player limped out being dropped to the bench for his team's final game. Reduced to a cameo role. Walking off the pitch and down the tunnel without even acknowledging the travelling supporters. 

On Sunday night Lionel Messi and Argentina lined up in the Lusail Stadium against 2018 winners France. As Captain, Lionel Messi could write his name into the history books, as Diego Maradona had done back in ‘86. The final piece of the jigsaw in an illustrious career.

At half time, 2-0 and cruising, it looked as though Messi had been elevated to football deity. Kylian Mbappe, his PSG team mate, had other ideas. With their first shot on target in the 80th minute, Mbappe scored from the spot, halving the deficit. Aston Villa’s Emi Martínez getting a hand to the Mbappe penalty, but it was too powerful to stop. Disaster struck 90 seconds later as Mbappe hit a peach of a shot from just inside the area after Messi had lost the ball on the half way line.

After losing the 2014 final to Germany, Lionel Messi must’ve been thinking that it would never happen for him. It was even the first time in the tournament that Argentina had given up a two goal advantage. In the quarter finals against the Netherlands, they conceded two late goals to take the game to extra time.

It eventually went to penalties, with Argentina winning 4-3. The hero of the day wasn’t the iconic number 10, however. The man of the moment, who had played a massive part in Argentina’s Copa America (South America’s Euros) victory as well, was Emiliano Martínez.

After the break in extra time Messi pounced on a parried save to put Argentina into a 3-2 lead against the French. It was almost certain Messi had done it. Mbappe had other ideas. After France were awarded another penalty, Mbappe stepped up and sent Martínez the wrong way. 3-3.

Momentum was with France as they looked for a winner. The board went up. 3 minutes added on to the 120 already played. Concentration was now paramount. Any mistake will be punished with the most devastating consequences. 

120 minutes +3 on the clock, the game all but certain to go to penalties and France winger Randal Kolo Muani was played through, one on one. To seal a second successive World Cup for France, to write his name in the history books and to cap off the greatest World Cup final ever. Unfortunately for Muani, he had to get past Martínez first.

Leaving his line to meet the player 12 yards out Martínez made himself big and saved the resulting shot with his left boot. Once again he had come to Argentina’s defence.

Penalties. Again. Martínez is a master of the dark arts when it comes to penalties. He can psyche his opponents out with a glance. His reputation as a penalty specialist precedes him. He truly believes he will save every penalty against him. In a situation where the burden lies with the taker rather than the goalkeeper, he approaches each shootout as if his life depends on it. 

Mbappe up first and, like Mbappe’s first of the game, he gets a hand to it. But again, it was just too powerful to stop. Undeterred, Coman steps up, mind games in full flow, Martínez picks the right side and saves the penalty. He dances off in celebration, his job is almost done. 

Up next was French youngster Auréilen Tchouaméni. Martínez picked the ball up from the spot as Thcouaméni made the long walk from the centre circle. Turned and walked towards his own goal bouncing the ball. Throwing it in the opposite direction of the oncoming player and disrupting his preparation for the penalty. Unsporting? Not quite. ‘Keepers have used various tactics over the years to put off the penalty taker. Grobelaar’s famous wobbly legs, Dudek employing a similar Jive based tactic, ‘keepers star jumping on the spot. 

Tchouaméni put his penalty wide of the post. Martínez had guessed the right way regardless, and would most likely have got at least a glove to it. It was another two penalties he had ‘saved’ for his country. Argentina’s fate was sealed when Gonzalo Montiel calmly put the ball past Hugo Lloris. World Champions. 

The eyes immediately went to Lionel Messi. A career missing only one trophy was now complete. The greatest of all time? Pele and Maradona are definitely in the conversation, both from very different eras, but he has to be up there. Best of his generation? Without a shadow of doubt. The discussion is over. 

Messi had only had heart break in international football, at one point losing three finals in a row including the 2014 World Cup Final. That all changed in 2021 when they beat Brazil to win the Copa America and now the World Cup in 2022. What a turn around.

It’s enough to make you ask what has changed in the last couple of years in the Argentina set up that has given them the basis to be so dominant? 

In unrelated news, Martínez made his Argentina debut in 2021 the week before the Copa America, where he started every game for Argentina and saved 3 penalties in the semi final shoot out against Colombia.

There is one Argentinian who will get all the praise and adoration from a world audience and there is one man he owes it all to. The true GOAT, the Copa America and FIFA World Cup Goalkeeper of the tournament, Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martínez.

Written by Tomas Browne