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Football

21st Dec 2022

Lionel Messi scolded for allowing Emi Martinez run riot on Kylian Mbappé

Callum Boyle

Emi Martinez

Enough is surely enough.

Emi Martinez has continued to taunt France striker Kylian Mbappé after he held up a baby doll with a picture of the 24-year-old’s face on it. Bastion of all things decent, Piers Morgan used the crass mockery to stick the book in.

To add extra fuel to the fire, Martinez was stood next to Mbappé’s Paris Saint-Germain teammate Lionel Messi when he held up the doll.

Martinez and the rest of the Argentina squad were celebrating their World Cup win with a victory parade in Buenos Aires however it had to be abandoned due to security issues as fans began climbing on top of the bus.

The Aston Villa goalkeeper played a major part in Argentina’s shootout victory against France, pulling off a vital save in the last seconds of extra time to deny Randal Kolo Muani.

He then saved Kinglsey Coman’s spot-kick as he helped La Albiceleste to win the World Cup for the first time since 1986.

Since the famous win in Qatar Martinez hasn’t been afraid to wind up Mbappé publicly. During their post-match dressing room celebrations, the 30-year-old was heard shouting “a moment of silence for Mbappé” while leading a conga line.

It all comes after the ‘keeper was one of the first players to be seen consoling the PSG forward after their final heartbreak.

Although it isn’t confirmed, Martinez’s personal vendetta against Mbappé could stem back to comments the Frenchman made six months ago. He said: “The advantage we have in Europe is that we play among ourselves with high-level matches all the time, such as the Nations League.

“When we arrive at the World Cup, we are ready, where Brazil and Argentina do not have this level in South America. Football is not as advanced as in Europe. That’s why at the last World Cups, it’s always the Europeans who win.”

Martinez fired back at the time, saying:

“He said that the level of South America is lower than the European level because he did not play there. If you do not have the experience then it is difficult to comment, but nothing was wrong with what he said. They know we are a world class team and they respect us for that.”

While Lionel Messi was on hand to scold teammate Rodrigo de Paul for dancing at the front of the open-top bus, during a parade cut short due to fan’s acting recklessly, he did stand by Martinez during his Mbappé taunting.

Over in Argentina, an Mbappé coffin effigy was also burnt during the World Cup celebrations.

For a chap that scored a hat-trick and a shootout goal against Argentina, the French striker is not getting a heap of respect from the victors.

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