Emiliano Martinez booed at Ballon d’Or ceremony as Argentina goalkeeper collects award in Paris

Emiliano Martinez was booed at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris on Monday night time as he collected the very best goalkeeper’s Yashin Trophy.

Martinez thwarted France in the 2022 World Cup remaining, making an important one-on-one save from Randal Kolo Muani in additional time to take the sport to penalties, earlier than making two extra saves in the shootout to assist clinch Argentina’s first World Cup since 1986.

The Aston Villa goalkeeper was criticised in the aftermath of the ultimate, nevertheless, for his overzealous celebrations when he was pictured carrying a doll of France captain Kylian Mbappe through the trophy parade in Buenos Aires.

Martinez arrived at Ballon d’Or ceremony to chants of “Mbappe!” exterior the venue. Later, after receiving his award from his father on stage, boos could possibly be heard as he was interviewed by host Didier Drogba whereas a video performed his well-known save from Kolo Muani in the background.

Martinez’s teammate Lionel Messi received a report eighth Ballon d’Or for the very best participant in the world, beating Norway’s Uefa participant of the 12 months and treble winner Erling Haaland of Manchester City to the distinguished prize. The 36-year-old is now three Ballons d’Or away from rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who received the final of his 5 trophies in 2017. Messi has now completed among the many high three a report 14 occasions in whole, ending runner-up on 5 events.

“I couldn’t imagine having the career that I’ve had. Everything that I’ve achieved. The fortune I’ve had playing for the best team in the world, the best team in history. It’s nice to win these individual trophies. To win the Copa America and then the World Cup, to get it done is amazing,” Messi mentioned.

“All of them (Ballon d’Or awards) are special for different reasons,” he added. “I’m happy to get that recognition that I’m getting thanks to what we have achieved with the national team,” Messi informed Reuters. “This (World Cup) title we had been aiming for for so many years makes it even more special.”

Asked if he would stick with it till the 2026 World Cup, Messi mentioned: “I don’t think about it. I’ll enjoy (my career) day by day. There will first be the Copa America in the United States (in 2024). (The World Cup), I don’t think about it.”

Spain’s World Cup winner and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati received the ladies’s Ballon d’Or. “It’s an individual trophy but it can’t exist without a team,” she mentioned.

Messi, who received his first Ballon d’Or in 2009 and claimed 4 in a row till 2012, completed second to Haaland at the Uefa awards in August.

Haaland, 23, was one of many agency favourites for his first Ballon d’Or after scoring 52 objectives in 53 matches in all competitions final season as City received the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup. But Argentina’s magical run at the World Cup in Qatar, the place Messi earned the Golden Ball for finest general participant and Silver Boot (seven objectives and three assists), helped him pip the Norwegian striker to the award.

The World Cup was the one main trophy lacking from Messi’s resume as Argentina made amends for dropping the 2014 remaining to Germany whereas in March he grew to become solely the third participant in historical past to attain 100 worldwide objectives. Messi additionally received the Ligue 1 title with Paris St Germain earlier than transferring to Inter Miami, the place he helped the Major League Soccer aspect win the Leagues Cup — their first main trophy.

Real Madrid and England midfielder Jude Bellingham received the Kopa Trophy for the very best Under-21 participant, whereas membership group mate Vinicius Jr was awarded the Socrates Award for his humanitarian work off the pitch.

Additional reporting by Reuters