Kylian Mbappe’s Expressive Response to Emiliano Martinez’s Game-Changing World Cup Final Save Captured on Film
At the grand Ballon d’Or ceremony, a hidden lens turned its gaze towards Kylian Mbappe and Didier Deschamps, capturing a moment that unfolded after Emiliano Martinez’s breathtaking World Cup final heroics against France. Martinez’s conduct during and after the final had ignited a firestorm of debate, making his presence at the awards ceremony all the more intriguing.
In that unforgettable World Cup final, the Argentine goalkeeper employed a strategic blend of mind games, unsettling the French players as they faced crucial penalty kicks. But it was the moments after the heart-wrenching defeat that added a layer of enigma. Martinez, in the midst of jubilant celebrations in the dressing room, playfully requested a moment of silence for Kylian Mbappe, adding a dash of humor to the poignant victory.
This camera man knows what he is doing 😭 Camera on Mbappe and Deschamps pic.twitter.com/m5nghq06Z3
— kaher (@KaherCFC) October 30, 2023
The day after the final, Martinez upped the ante, playfully trolling Mbappe with a baby doll adorned with the likeness of the French football sensation. The doll was a cheeky reminder of Mbappe’s four-goal onslaught against Martinez during that fateful match.
Fast forward ten months, and Martinez found himself crowned as the world’s premier goalkeeper at the Ballon d’Or gala held at the grand Theatre du Chatelet in Paris. His proud father, Alberto, presented him with the revered Yashin Trophy, though the moment was not without its share of discord as boos emanated from the audience during his interview with the charismatic host, Didier Drogba.
Before Martinez’s interview, an enthralling montage of his most extraordinary saves played on the screen, capturing the imagination of those in attendance. During this sequence, the camera, with the finesse of a storyteller, discreetly panned to immortalize the expressions of Kylian Mbappe and Didier Deschamps in response to Martinez’s sensational last-minute denial of Kolo Muani’s strike.
Mbappe & Deschamps’ reaction after seeing that Dibu Martinez save 😂 pic.twitter.com/gXcKMftsuw
— Roberto Rojas (@RobertoRojas97) October 30, 2023
In a February interview, Martinez clarified his intent, stating that he never singled out Mbappe for any particular targeting during the post-match festivities. The baby doll, he explained, was held for just a brief moment and tossed away, never meant to ridicule Mbappe. Instead, he expressed profound respect for Mbappe’s talent and emphasized that the doll was all in good fun. Martinez passionately defended the exuberant camaraderie in Argentina’s post-match dressing room, considering it part and parcel of football traditions and harboring no personal ill will against Mbappe. In fact, he offered a prophecy, believing that in the post-Messi era, Kylian Mbappe would be a future recipient of numerous Ballon d’Or awards, a testament to his exceptional talent.