Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez has won the World Cup and, on two occasions, the Copa América with Argentina since making his national team debut in 2021.
The 32-year-old played a key role in helping La Albiceleste win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and was instrumental in the final against France.
It’s been two years since Argentina won the World Cup and on Wednesday, the Aston Villa star relived those moments for AFA Estudio. His comments are relayed by TNT Sports.
The goalkeeper has stated he would retire if he were to win the 2026 World Cup with the national team.
“Has there ever been a national team that has won two World Cups in a row? That’s where I’m retiring, I’m telling you here. I promise you that if it happens, I’ll retire after that World Cup,” he said.
Inter Milan star Lautaro Martínez immediately told the Aston Villa man that he is “already old”.
Responding to that, Martínez explained: “I’ve only just turned 32, my friend, I’ll be 33 at the World Cup. I started playing when I was 30, what do you want?”
It’s not clear whether Martínez will retire from football or international football if Argentina were to win the next World Cup. It’s likely to be the latter considering the former Arsenal man’s contract at Aston Villa lasts until 2029.
Martínez admitted he thought about retiring after Argentina’s success in Qatar. He explained this when mentioning what went through in his head after winning the World Cup.
“I get to the dressing room, and I see Cuti Romero and Marito crying. Then I said: ‘No, that’s it, I’m retiring from the national team. That’s it, I’ve achieved everything’. It was my dream,” he added.
“Then I passed Paulo Dybala crying and when I hugged him, I started crying like a child thinking about what I suffered in England.”
Martínez created history when he became the first player to win both the Yashin Trophy and the Best Goalkeeper Award twice.
