Emiliano Martínez, the goalie who was inexplicably shown the door by EPL club Arsenal just over two years ago, has been named as FIFA Best Goalkeeper of the Year.
Martinez left the Gunners in September 2020 and later revealed he left because he felt Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta did not trust him.
The Argentinian World Cup winner, who now plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Aston Villa and the Argentina national team, was kept on the sidelines at Arsenal for nearly a decade.
When Martinez’s chance to play eventually came – albeit by default – after the German Bernd Leno was injured football pundits remarked at his goalkeeping ability.
Even after the splendid display Martinez was not considered to be good enough to be the Gunners’ number-one keeper.
Martinez even contemplated leaving football altogether, fortunately he found a home at Aston Villa, where his abilities were further amplified earning him a place in the Argentina World Cup team.
Now the 30-year-old has been voted the Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper months after winning the World Cup.
Martinez’s teammate, Lionel Messi, who inspired Argentina to the World Cup triumph in December, was awarded Best FIFA men’s player prize for 2022 in Paris, in France, on Monday, while Spain’s Alexia Putellas retained the women’s award.