Emiliano Martinez won the award for Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper at the organisation’s ceremony on Monday night.
The Aston Villa goalkeeper was a key figure in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph, producing a number of incredible saves and moments of gamesmanship to guide the South American nation to their third world title.
Martinez was brilliant in two penalty shootouts and made a pivotal stop during extra time of the final against France before Argentina went on to win on spot kicks.
Accepting the trophy in Paris, Martinez said: “My family supported me in this, Aston Villa and a lot of people in the Argentina side. It’s been a dream throughout my life to play for the national side.
“People ask me what goalkeeper did you dream of as a child? I saw my mother cleaning buildings for eight hours a day, I saw my father working so hard – they are my idols.”
Martinez’s antics during his side’s celebration fuelled a media war with Kylian Mbappe, the defeated France star who was a butt of a number of jokes from Martinez. Both players have since played down any supposed spat.
He has since returned to Villa and was excellent in their recent 2-0 win at Everton.