Argentina vs. France in the World Cup final was an emotional rollercoaster. Soccer fans will never forget this epic encounter, which left an indelible mark on the game’s history. While the game had its share of serious moments, you might be startled to learn of an unexpected and side-splitting event in which Argentine shot-stopper Emiliano Martinez made an obscene gesture at French phenom Kylian Mbappe’s face.
This never-before-seen incident was disclosed in Netflix’s latest documentary, ‘Captains of the World,’ promoting the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane, Gareth Bale, and Simon Kjaer are among the soccer stars who have shared their experiences in Qatar.
Emiliano Martinez’s funny yet provocative gesture in the face of Kylian Mbappe
While soccer fans continue to binge-watch the anticipated event, Fernando Esquivel, a prominent Mexican writer and transfer news specialist, used the opportunity to shed light on a specific incident during the World Cup final. He posted a video of France winning a penalty. Martinez stepped over and humorously lunged in his crotch area toward the PSG star, making it look like a shoving action, as their dangerous striker Kylian Mbappe bent to put the ball at the spot. Despite the Frenchman’s fast reaction of raising his head and laughing, Polish referee Szymon Marciniak promptly intervened and harshly admonished the Argentinian goalkeeper.
It’s a good thing Kylian Mbappe took it lightly in such a tight situation. Dibu’s antics didn’t end there, as after earning the Golden Glove award, he took the trophy near his groin area and made another obscene gesture while celebrating. In any case, Martinez delivers a hilarious moment. Maybe it’s one of his mind games to distract his opponents.
Dibu Martinez admits to using mind tricks while competing in the FIFA World Cup
Martinez acknowledged in the same video that he used mind games to distract his opponents during penalty shootouts in the quarterfinals against the Netherlands and the final against France. “Goalkeeping consumes your entire mind. It’s all about picturing what happened. The package is entirely mine. “It’s my box; it’s my space,” he explained.
Following his psychological approaches, FIFA enacted new rules prohibiting goalkeepers from scaring or distracting penalty kickers by kicking the goalposts and the net. When asked about his thoughts on the rule change, the Argentinian responded with a wry smile, indicating that it was too late to modify the rules.