Emiliano Martinez has claimed that he didn’t mock Kylian Mbappe despite taping the striker’s face to a baby doll.
Argentina claimed their third-ever World Cup in December after they beat France on penalties in a thrilling final. However, the main talking point in the days and weeks after was not about the victory itself by the celebrations which came after.
In particular, the celebrations of Argentina goalkeeper Martinez who openly mocked Mbappe. A video emerged of the Aston Villa player making fun of him in the dressing room and then while on their homecoming parade, he brought a baby doll with Mbappe’s face on it.
Emiliano Martinez demandant de faire une minute de silence pour Kylian Mbappé. 😐 pic.twitter.com/qKovCSumk2
— Actu Foot (@ActuFoot_) December 18, 2022
But he has now claimed that he didn’t actually mock him.
‘I held it [baby doll] for like two minutes and I threw it away, that’s all’, said Martinez in an interview with France Football.
‘How can I make fun of Mbappe? He scored four past me. Four goals in a final! He must think I am his toy baby! I have huge respect for Mbappe.’
‘I told him he should be proud of himself and keep his head high, because he played a fantastic game and that he was one of the best players in the world,’ he added.
‘He was flying, we could not stop him.’