‘Haven’t done in a long time’ – Why World Cup winner Emi Martinez has his smile back thanks to Lionel Messi & Aston Villa silencing their doubters

The 31-year-old goalkeeper has had plenty to be happy about in the last 12 months, with major honours secured with Argentina at the last Copa America before savouring global glory alongside Lionel Messi at Qatar 2022. Martinez has also helped Aston Villa to European qualification and to piece together a surprising Premier League title challenge.

Martinez has told ESPN when asked to pick out highlights from the last year: “It's difficult to choose. Last year's season is unrepeatable. It's difficult to finish a year better than that. But this year too, at the club and national team level. To be the goalkeeper with the most minutes without conceding goals in the history of the national team and being in the middle of a season fighting for the title with Aston Villa, which is a club that no one thought would be so high, is a double merit. I'm enjoying football, which is something I haven't done in a long time.”

Martinez added on seeing Villa sat third in the Premier League, one point adrift of leaders Arsenal while also still being in the FA Cup and Europa Conference League: “Many people did not have us in the top six because of playing in European competition and since our squad is not that of the big six - no one gave us the chance to get into the top six. Yes, top seven or eight, because we finished the season well and we entered the Conference League, but everyone said that with a European competition we were going to fall. But, the truth is we are not just maintaining. We still have losses, it will be difficult to win the games, but we have a coach who does not let us relax - and we compete. And in the end, when you compete a thousand times every game, you win more than you lose.”

Quizzed on which trophy he would most like to land in 2024, Martinez said: “It's very difficult (to think about a title). I always go step by step. Obviously, if you ask me which one I plan to win, I want all three. But it doesn't depend on just me, it depends on injuries - you're not playing in a World Cup that's just seven games. You have to play some games, you have to see how your team is. We are going to fight for all three, the FA Cup, the Conference and the Premier, but I can't tell you which one we are going to do better in because there are very good teams in Europe and injuries are something you cannot control.”

Villa have games against Sheffield United, Manchester United and Burnley to take them through to the end of the calendar year, while Argentina are already counting down the days to a Copa America title defence in 2024.