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Last Thursday, it was a familiar sight for French fans as they watched Emiliano Martínez (31) loom over almost every chance that Lille OSC created against Aston Villa. 

The quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League might have been a far less impressive setting but the flashbacks were no less real for the French fans still tortured by the Argentine’s phenomenal display in the 2022 World Cup. 

In that final, a competition that has come to be defined as Lionel Messi’s (36) swansong on the global stage, there was only one name in the Argentine squad that could have come close to stealing Messi’s spotlight. Despite conceding three goals, the goalkeeper was heroic throughout the final, a vital presence at the death in stopping Randal Kolo-Muani (25) from winning the game, and a penalty shootout hero for his nation. 

His performance alone would have made him a figure of despise in France, but it was his reaction during the celebrations that cemented his reviled reputation, and quickly earned him the moniker of the “ most hated Argentine in France .”

As he collected the golden glove for his efforts in the tournament, Martínez made an obscene gesture when he placed the trophy in front of his pelvis. A reaction he weakly blamed on the French fans, stating “ I did it because the French booed me. Arrogance doesn’t work with me .”

Despite being one of the first to console Kylian Mbappé (25) on the pitch, he was far less gracious in the dressing room where he was witnessed calling for a minute’s silence for the Frenchman, “ Who is dead .” The goalkeeper had previously taken exception to Mbappé’s comments that South American football had been left behind by the European game. 

Back in Argentina where the celebrations continued,

Lionel Messi Aston Villa Emiliano Martinez