October 30, (THEWILL) – Argentinian goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez, has been named the winner of the prestigious Yashin Trophy at the 2022 Ballon d’Or ceremony on Monday evening, in Paris. The Aston Villa player was recognised for his outstanding performances for Argentina during their victorious World Cup campaign last year.
Martinez made a number of crucial saves throughout the tournament in Qatar, including a pivotal stop from France’s Randal Kolo Muani in the final that helped keep the scores level. His heroics during the penalty shootout that clinched the trophy for Argentina cemented his status as one of the world’s top keepers.
The 30-year-old beat off competition from the likes of Ederson Moraes, Mike Maignan and Thibaut Courtois, to claim the award. Footage of his decisive save in the final drew boos from the French crowd at the ceremony, requiring host, Didier Drogba, to step in. Martinez was joined on stage by his proud father as he collected the trophy.
The Yashin Trophy caps off a remarkable 2022/2023 campaign for Martinez, who also claimed the Golden Glove for best goalkeeper at the World Cup. He was additionally named The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper earlier this year.
The Argentinian shot-stopper came 15th in the final Ballon d’Or standings – the highest ranking ever achieved by a goalkeeper. After inspiring his country to World Cup glory, this individual recognition is just reward for Martinez’s consistently outstanding performances on the global stage.
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Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
