Martinez booed when receiving 'Best Goalkeeper' award

France Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was booed by the audience at the Chatelet theatre as he received the Yasine award at the 2023 Ballon d'Or gala.

Martinez beat Ederson and Yassine Bono to win the award, which was presented by his father. While waiting for the award, the organizers played a video of the 31-year-old goalkeeper's memorable moments, then showed more than three times the situation where he saved with his foot from Randal Kolo Muani's shot in the 2022 World Cup final.

Emiliano Martinez and his father at the Golden Ball gala at the Chatelet theater in Paris, France on the evening of October 30, 2023. Photo: Reuters — Emiliano Martinez and his father at the Golden Ball gala at the Chatelet theater in Paris, France on the evening of October 30, 2023. Photo: *Reuters*

As the images appeared on screen, the French audience whistled and booed. The host, former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, asked the audience to be more polite. The ceremony then continued without further incident.

The camera also showed French captain Kylian Mbappe and coach Didier Deschamps, and neither showed any emotion. Because in the final match mentioned above, France lost to Argentina on penalties. And if Muani's shot had gone into the net, the European representative would have likely won the championship.

Before the gala, when Martinez got out of the car to go on the red carpet, the French audience outside the theater also whistled. At the FIFA The Best ceremony on February 28, 2023, Martinez also suffered a similar situation. When asked about these situations, the goalkeeper who plays for Aston Villa told ESPN : "I find it normal, because we beat France to win the World Cup, and the Golden Ball and The Best were both awarded in Paris. If France won, I think the Argentines would react the same way."

Martinez was a reserve goalkeeper at Arsenal from 2012-2020, but his career has taken off since moving to Aston Villa. He started in the Premier League, was called up to the national team and won three consecutive titles with Argentina: Copa America, Intercontinental Cup and World Cup. He was also voted best goalkeeper at the World Cup, before winning the same award at The Best.

Top 10 best goalkeepers : 1- Emiliano Martinez, 2- Ederson, 3- Yassine Bono, 4- Thibaut Courtois, 5- Marc Andre ter Stegen, 6- Andre Onana, 7- Dominik Livakovic, 8- Aaron Ramsdale, 9- Mike Maignan, 10- Brice Samba.

Hoang An

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