Lionel Messi has his World Cup.
The residing legend lastly was in a position to maintain that trophy aloft, after Argentina outlasted France in maybe the finest males’s World Cup Final in historical past. Messi himself scored twice, first on a penalty within the twenty eighth minute to provide Argentina a 1-0 lead, after which in additional time to place Argentina on the cusp of the World Cup. But Messi and Argentina would want to win in penalty kicks, because of a fully scientific effort from Kylian Mbappé on the opposite aspect of the pitch.
In the approaching days and weeks a lot can be written, and stated, about Messi’s legacy, in addition to how Argentina managed to lastly safe World Cup glory. And in these tales and discussions, one title ought to undoubtedly be talked about.
Emi Martínez.
The keeper stood tall for Argentina when his group, and his nation, wanted him most. For the match to even advance to penalty kicks, it required absolute heroism from Martínez within the closing minutes of additional time.
With the match knotted at three, and into stoppage time, France had one in all their finest scoring probabilities of the complete match. Defender Ibrahima Konaté, who had come on within the 113th minute to switch an injured Raphaël Varane, lofted a ball excessive from midfield. Randal Kolo Muani, one other substitute, received the race to the ball along with his contemporary legs. He was by, with solely Martínez standing between him and eternal glory.
The keeper got here off his line to press the difficulty, and preserved the tie for his group:
Up within the sales space, Stu Holden on the FOX broadcast group warned us all to do not forget that second, and do not forget that save.
He could be confirmed proper minutes later.
Because that was not the one second the keeper delivered for Argentina. After Mbappé and Messi opened the penalty shootout by every changing their possibilities, Kingsley Coman stepped to the spot to provide France a 2-1 benefit.
But Martínez had different concepts:
The keeper guessed appropriately, lunging to his proper to show Coman’s try apart. That gave Argentina the benefit, and they’d capitalize, en path to their victory.
After the match, Martínez talked in regards to the overwhelming feelings of the second:
For his efforts all event lengthy, Martinez was named the Golden Glove winner. Martínez turned in three clear sheets throughout the World Cup, and got here up big within the Final, along with his save on the finish of additional time, and his save early within the shootout to provide Argentina the early benefit.
(He additionally celebrated his Golden Glove trophy in amusing trend, however we’ll allow you to Google that).
Of course, the story is Messi. Messi’s legacy was safe getting into the World Cup, no matter outcome. But the pictures of him holding the trophy aloft, lastly, can be cherished in Argentina for generations.
So too ought to the pictures of Martínez standing tall when his group, and his nation, wanted him most.