Football News: Lionel Messi hails compatriot Emiliano Martinez as ‘one of the best goalkeepers in the world’

Football News: Lionel Messi heaped praise on Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez after Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Uruguay. Following the game on Monday, Messi said that Martinez is ‘one of the best goalkeepers in the world’.

The Aston Villa goalie made two important saves to keep out Luis Suarez in the first half. Goals from Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul, and Lautaro Martinez sealed the game for Argentina as they won the World cup qualifying match.

Martinez was an integral part of the Argentina team in their winning campaign of the Copa America in the summer. He managed to save three penalties in the penalty shootout as Argentina won over Colombia in the semi-finals.

After another solid performance for his country, Paris Saint-Germain superstar Lionel Messi waxed lyrical on Martinez.

‘Dibu [Emiliano] Martinez is fundamental,’ said Messi, via TNT Sports. ‘When they come to him, he always responds. ‘He established himself in goal and we have one of the best goalkeepers in the world.’

Football news: Emiliano Martinez’s brilliant performances in the recent past

The 29-year-old was at Arsenal for 10 years and was sent out on loan spells six times in that period. But in the end, he got a chance to play for the Gunners in the first team.

Bernd Leno got injured at the end of the 2019-20 campaign that’s when the opportunity presented itself. Martinez took full advantage and produced a string of top-notch performances between the goal.

Emiliano left Arsenal in the summer of 2020 to join Dean Smith’s Aston Villa. Since then he has gone from strength to strength.

He was still not sure of the playing time at Arsenal that he needed, so he moved on to Aston Villa in a deal for £20million. Since joining Aston Villa, the goalkeeper excelled in his first season at the Midlands club.

Martinez started this season too on a high with solid performances under his belt. He has managed to keep three clean sheets in six games so far.

Martinez’s absence can be felt at the Emirates

The Gunners are right now in a deep mess with their main player Granit Xhaka out with injury. The reshuffling of the squad and getting new young players has also not resolved the issue. They had to rely on a new signing in the form of Aaron Ramsdale to provide competition for Leno.

But the-23-year-old has proved his metal and is now the first choice goalie for Mikel Arteta’s squad. He has started the last four games in the Premier League for the Gunners.