Emiliano Martinez similar to Lionel Messi

DBasia.news – Emiliano Martinez claims that currently he is similar to Lionel Messi who is a source of inspiration for many people and says he wants to take on the next challenge at club level.

The eccentric Argentine goalkeeper who won the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, has now seen his reputation as a footballer improve dramatically.

Martinez is now increasingly known, not only in his hometown but also throughout the world. Now, the 30-year-old goalkeeper believes that he has become a source of inspiration for the next generation.

Martinez had this to say on Mike Calvin’s Football People podcast for BT Sport: “I touched the sky, just like my father said. Half the kids want to be Messi, half the kids now want to be goalkeepers.”

“Obviously, it’s a proud moment in my career. I’ve always said I hate individual awards, you know, now with the FIFA Best prize, it doesn’t satisfy me.”

“I’m satisfied to see young kids trying to be goalkeepers now because they liked what they saw at the World Cup, you know? So no matter what happens in my career, from now on, I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity I got at the World Cup.”

Martinez has been linked with transfer rumors after winning the World Cup, with him being keen to challenge himself at a higher level than at Aston Villa, a club he has joined since 2020 after leaving Arsenal.

“I want to achieve something that nobody has achieved, or is challenging to achieve. And obviously, people say, after the Copa America after the World Cup, Emi will leave and play in the Champions League and he will go there. And I think “Yeah, that’s the easiest part. You know it’s easy to leave now in January moving to a club playing in the Champions League and so on. It seems like everything is easy.”

“Actually, it was a real challenge for me. Winning the World Cup for Argentina after 36 years. Yes. Beating the American champions after 28 years at the Maracana. Yes, it was a challenge. Winning the Finalissima against the European champions was a challenge.”

“And now we need something for Aston Villa after 30 years? I don’t know how long. 40 years? That’s a challenge. You know, that’s a challenge. And that’s what I’m here for, for the challenge, because there’s not always an easy way out, and we have one of the best managers to win things in Europe. So I’m ready for this challenge.”