Emi Martinez reveals ‘sacrifice’ after dominant Argentina win v Brazil
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martínez will return to Villa Park with a pep in his step after Argentina’s latest display.
The 32-year-old kept a clean sheet as Argentina defeated Uruguay in their first game of the international break on Friday (21 March), but they faced a much bigger test after that.
A clash against their iconic rivals, Brazil, is something that means more to Argentina fans than most things, putting real pressure on the squad to deliver.
That is precisely what Lionel Scaloni’s men did as they thrashed Brazil 4-1 after goals from Julian Alvarez, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister, and Giuliano Simeone.
Martinez wants to deliver something special
Playing for his country is something that Martinez has always been extremely passionate about, which has been evident in the way that he plays and talks about the team.
Even though he let in a goal against Brazil, the Villa goalkeeper provided another strong performance, which has been the key to his entire season.
Martinez has been reliable in goal for Villa throughout the 2024-25 campaign, whether that’s in the Premier League or across Europe.
| Match Stats | Martinez |
| Accurate Passes | 28/34 (82%) |
| Throws | 6 |
| Recoveries | 7 |
| Touches | 41 |
The victory against Brazil was particularly important as they were able to secure qualification for the World Cup, which was a huge achievement for Martinez as he earned his 51st international cap.
The goalkeeper celebrated the victory on Instagram after the game, where he said, “Thank you people for this welcome and support, we try to deliver it with commitment and sacrifice for you. This team is not going to stop.”
Aston Villa must focus on silverware
Martinez might have won the biggest prize in football with Argentina’s World Cup victory in 2022, but he must now concentrate on success at club level.
Villa still have the chance to lift two trophies this season as they remain in the Champions League and the FA Cup.
The latter will be Villa’s first game back as Unai Emery’s side play Preston North End in the quarter-finals, with Martinez and his teammates having the chance to book a trip to Wembley Stadium in the next round.
Considering the fact that Manchester City are the only traditional ‘big’ team left, this is a competition that Villa will be viewing as extremely winnable.