Martinez has been bestowed with the prestigious honour after playing a starring role in Argentina’s 2022 FIFA World Cup™ success.
The award was voted for by national team coaches and captains as well as expert journalists and supporters across the world. The winner was announced at The Best FIFA Football Awards 2022™, with Martinez finishing ahead of finalists Yassine Bounou and Thibaut Courtois in the polling.
Martinez was a figure of inspiration and excellence as the last line of Argentina’s defence during their triumphant Qatar 2022 campaign. The 30-year-old was a key performer for his nation and won the Golden Glove award for the tournament’s best goalkeeper.
His reputation as a penalty specialist was enhanced by stunning saves in Argentina’s shoot-out wins over the Netherlands in the last eight and France in the final. That astonishing final also saw Martinez make one of the one of most important goalkeeping interventions in football history. With the score locked at 3-3 and heading into the 123rd minute, France forward Randal Kolo Muani raced through on goal and let fly with a shot that looked destined for the bottom corner of the net. Martinez made a remarkable stop with his outstretched left boot, though, to ensure the game went to penalties.
Martinez has also consistently impressed for club side Aston Villa over the past 18 months and has cemented his status as one of the Premier League’s pre-eminent goalkeepers.
Martinez was Argentina’s penalty shoot-out hero in their dramatic quarter-final win over the Netherlands, making two wonderful saves from Virgil van Dijk and Steven Berghuis.
