Aston Villa's penalty shoot-out hero Emi Martinez has been hailed as the "best goalkeeper in the world" by former Villa hero Lee Hendrie - but is he right?
Villa beat Lille on penalties to make the Europa Conference League semi-finals after some Martinez heroics in the shoot-out.
Hendrie, who was covering the game for Sky Sports News, raved at full-time, declaring: "Martinez is the main man. It's unbelievable. He's the best goalkeeper in the world. I can't believe Arsenal let him go. Villa into the semi-finals. Let's have it.
"The big players turn up in the big moments. The fans gave him no end of stick.
"He gave them a Ricky Gervais dance at the end. I'm thrilled for the club and for Martinez. That's the way to silence the crowd."
Is Hendrie right? Sky Sports' Gerard Brand and Lewis Jones debate whether or not Martinez is the best on the planet....
The case for: His ego resonates throughout the defence
Sky Sports' Gerard Brand:
"Hendrie is right, Martinez is the best in the world. He hasn't shown any weaknesses to his game over a sustained period. His shot-stopping and aerial ability is obviously outstanding. His passing is fantastic, too. He is the epitome of Unai Emery's style of play of refusing to go long, starting attacks deep and being able to play through the press.
"But there's more to Martinez which makes him unique. He has an ego about him that seems to resonate throughout the defence, and that helps when trying to play Emery's way, which requires a huge amount of bravery with the high-line. Being the last line of defence, you need someone to rely on, someone that can get you out of bother and Martinez is that guy. He steps up on the big occasion. The bigger the game, the bigger the performance.
"Last night in the last minute of extra-time he put his foot on the ball to waste time to make sure the game went to penalties instead of pushing for a winner. It was like he knew he'd be the match-winner in that scenario.
"And he was right. There is nobody better."
The case against: Ederson and Alisson are still clear
Sky Sports' Lewis Jones:
"Excuse the simplicity, but picking a world XI is usually a sound way of figuring out whether a player is the best in the world for his position. And it is absolutely the way to conclude whether a goalkeeper is the best in the world. Only one goalkeeper can play, whereas you can be a little bit creative with your line-up when discussing outfield players being the best of the best.
"Martinez is a fantastic goalkeeper, no question, with a World Cup winner's medal to prove it and an impressive body of work with Aston Villa. Martinez, of course, won the Golden Glove in Qatar, producing some heroics in the penalty shoot-out win against France in the final and his performance in Lille was spectacular.
"But the best in the world? No, no. no.
"Martinez was sensational for Argentina in Qatar but international football tournaments aren't the environments anymore where we can truly judge a world-class player. Top-level European club competitions and the top end of the Premier League, maybe the Bundesliga and LaLiga, are where we can gain a true measure of analysing a player over a larger sample size.
"Where would that Argentina team finish if they were somehow parachuted into this year's Champions League? Quarter-finals? Maybe a semi-final?
"Until I see Martinez perform consistently at the very top level, for example in the Champions League knockout stages and a Premier League title race, the evidence just isn't there to declare him as the best in the world. Ederson, Alisson - and even someone like Thibaut Courtois when fit - are still ahead of him in the pecking order."
amber79707
0
The gk I watch them play no old school in it, your emi Martinez is only a good penalty stopper
Only 25 add 75 more then talk shit
Gicoco12
0
He is not even Top 50 Goalkeeper of all time
The gk I watch them play no old school in it, your emi Martinez is only a good penalty stopper
Gicoco12
0
You name 50 goalkeepers of all time go on start
Peter Schmeichel Manuel Neuer Oliver Kahn Iker Casillas Petr Cech Fabien Barthez Gianluigi Buffon Edwin Van der Sar Thomas N'Kono Angelo Peruzzi Jens Lehmann Thibaut Courtois Lev Yashin Allison Jan oblak De gea Ter stegen Ederson Dida V. Valdes Pepe reina Julio Caesar Brad friedel Tim krul Loris
amber79707
0
I can name you 100 and he won’t be there
U are just a meatrider
amber79707
0
I can name you 100 and he won’t be there
I am still waiting btw when are u going to start
Biabcmnopt
0
👍👑👍
gaymwnrey
0
yes he is the best in the world
pehabkpyz
1
He's one of the Best Goalkeepers in the World!! YES !!💙
[image]
in it
Heebcdntu
1
Off course he deserves a ballondor but France won't give him
Thaddy
0
100% yes.. he is the best goalkeeper in the world now
nuuabcekns
1
8qq0ayw89iuoi12a8oqaf1he is a very good goalkeeper
hhh who says emi is the best goalkeper
jioacdilmp
0
Yes he is the best in world
amartious2000
0
Aside jokes, he showed up when there's a tie.
shufflebeng85
0
Probably be in top 10 but not top 5
subra101
0
Get the F U C K out of here! Not even in the top 20
he is the best
putdeinptz
0
Definitely not ! However he's the best in poor sportsmanship !
the best in the world
putdeinptz
1
Get the F U C K out of here! Not even in the top 20
the best 😄😄😄
putdeinptz
2
with emrie you might as well give villa the trophey because he own's it
womeloprtz
1
Get the F U C K out of here! Not even in the top 20
wuacmprtuy
1
Definitely not ! However he's the best in poor sportsmanship !
Football_Messi
1
no he is not.. but he is best at tru breaker.. n most importantly he is the best we r relying on him
fupaceinr
1
Ok messi fans call him the best, this dude is no where close to Ederson, Allison, raya. Mans not even the best in EPL talk-less of the world
You’re totally mad you’re saying all this rubbish in favor of big team you’re disgusting to football
amber79707
0
I can name you 100 and he won’t be there
Go ahead don't speak start
Nidbmnrsz
0
8qq0ayw89iuoi12a8oqaf1he is a very good goalkeeper
SaadAkhtarKhan
0
bro that was a trash Barca it was expected, it was messi the one was carrying them
what about 2012 Barcelona getting penetrated 7-0 in two legs? what excuse do u have for that?
Gicoco12
2
Ok messi fans call him the best, this dude is no where close to Ederson, Allison, raya. Mans not even the best in EPL talk-less of the world
hebdeknop
0
He shows up on the biggest stages. When the teams need him the most... yes, the best
Gicoco12
1
You name 50 goalkeepers of all time go on start
I can name you 100 and he won’t be there
MarcusDobson6
0
He should sign a contract with a big club
thats what I've always said,he needs to join a big club and try win the UCL
Gicoco12
3
Best in dancing Best in penalties Best in time wasting Best in mockery Best goalkeeper hell no
MarcusDobson6
0
you are still suffering from 8/ 2 bro
bro that was a trash Barca it was expected, it was messi the one was carrying them
Gicoco12
1
Not even close
lbt
0
No. Never! But his dance at WC final was the best!
Fuxe
0
Neur is no longer the best my friend just admit it Martinez is the best right now despite playing for a smaller club his performance is still at a high level compared to Nuer who is conceding goals week in week out.
you are still suffering from 8/ 2 bro
zupbdlmuz
1
yes he's the best for me
Trollolol
1
In penalty yes but not overall keeping
The_Alpha13
0
I'm sometimes put off by his provocative attitude and ego but fact is he's a really good and reliable goalie.....One of the best in the world at the moment
I share those same sentiments.
The_Alpha13
0
best in the world is debatable. if we talk penalties now then you got a strong argument. he is great at it. throwing off players, winding them up and the crowd. he is the best when it comes down to a penalty.
kicabklry
0
he would be the best goalkeeper if neuer was not alive saving 2 penalty doesn't make you best goalkeeper
Neur is no longer the best my friend just admit it Martinez is the best right now despite playing for a smaller club his performance is still at a high level compared to Nuer who is conceding goals week in week out.
SGTSingam
1
Yes, Emi Martinez is the current Best Goalkeeper in the World. Bless him 🙏🏼
Yes he is the best 👍
kicabklry
1
He is the best no doubt
Fuxe
0
he would be the best goalkeeper if neuer was not alive saving 2 penalty doesn't make you best goalkeeper
ㅤㅤ
3
He is a mastermind when it comes to penalty shootouts.He perfectly knows how to get under a player's skin and make the player's mood worse which will eventually affect the player's focus
Yoeadklor
1
I'm sometimes put off by his provocative attitude and ego but fact is he's a really good and reliable goalie.....One of the best in the world at the moment
Yoeadklor
0
I'm sometimes put off by his provocative attitude and ego but fact is he's a really good and reliable goalie.....
Vedcmorsu
1
based on current form he is just great to watch. I still don't understand why arsenal let him him go,he is very very good
Tamislive
4
An ego that only World Champions can afford to have 😌 🇦🇷
amber79707
0
Good but a manipulater. Tries to distract opposition players as seen during penalties. They have a good manager Moyes.
Yeah ur Football knowledge is underrated Moyes is definitely not the manager of Aston Villa
Deebdeilmu
2
Individual brilliance, Emil is the best
amber79707
0
He is not even Top 50 Goalkeeper of all time
You name 50 goalkeepers of all time go on start