Keeper Martinez may ‘step aside’ from Argentina
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41'
Yellow card Lisandro MARTINEZ (Argentina) is booked by
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52'
Yellow card Leandro PAREDES (Argentina) is booked by
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82'
Yellow card Enzo FERNANDEZ (Argentina) is booked by
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90'+2'
Yellow card Cristian ROMERO (Argentina) is booked by
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90'+3'
Red card Enzo FERNANDEZ (Argentina) is booked for
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105'
Yellow card Lionel SCALONI (Argentina) is booked by
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106'
Goal Ferran TORRES (Spain) scores!!
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Yellow card Alexis MAC ALLISTER (Argentina) is booked
Spain squad
- Selected
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8 Fabian RUIZ Midfielder
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10 Dani OLMO Forward
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12 Pedro PORRO Defender
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14 Aymeric LAPORTE Defender
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15 Alex BAENA Midfielder
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16 RODRI C Midfielder
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19 Lamine YAMAL Forward
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21 Mikel OYARZABAL Forward
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22 Pau CUBARSI Defender
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23 Unai SIMON Goalkeeper
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24 Marc CUCURELLA Defender
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1 David RAYA Goalkeeper
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2 Marc PUBILL Defender
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3 Alex GRIMALDO Defender
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4 Eric GARCIA Defender
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5 Marcos LLORENTE Defender
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6 Mikel MERINO Midfielder
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7 Ferran TORRES Forward
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9 GAVI Midfielder
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11 Yeremy PINO Forward
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13 Joan GARCIA Goalkeeper
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17 Nico WILLIAMS Forward
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18 Martin ZUBIMENDI Midfielder
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20 PEDRI Midfielder
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25 Victor MUNOZ Forward
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26 Borja IGLESIAS Forward
Argentina squad
- Selected
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3 Nicolas TAGLIAFICO Defender
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4 Gonzalo MONTIEL Defender
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6 Lisandro MARTINEZ Defender
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7 Rodrigo DE PAUL Midfielder
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9 Julian ALVAREZ Forward
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10 Lionel MESSI C Forward
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13 Cristian ROMERO Defender
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15 Nico GONZALEZ Midfielder
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20 Alexis MAC ALLISTER Midfielder
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23 Emiliano MARTINEZ Goalkeeper
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24 Enzo FERNANDEZ Midfielder
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1 Juan MUSSO Goalkeeper
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2 Marcos SENESI Defender
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5 Leandro PAREDES Midfielder
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8 Valentin BARCO Midfielder
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11 Giovani Lo Celso Midfielder
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12 Geronimo RULLI Goalkeeper
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14 Exequiel PALACIOS Midfielder
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16 Thiago ALMADA Forward
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17 Giuliano SIMEONE Forward
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18 Nico PAZ Forward
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19 Nicolas OTAMENDI Defender
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21 Jose Manuel LOPEZ Forward
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22 Lautaro MARTINEZ Forward
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25 Facundo MEDINA Defender
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26 Nahuel MOLINA Defender
Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez has said he is considering whether it is "time to step aside" from international football following his side's 1-0 defeat by Spain in the World Cup final. The 33-year-old, who was named the tournament's best goalkeeper when Argentina lifted the trophy in 2022, played every minute of this year's campaign but was unable to prevent the team falling short in their bid to retain the title, raising questions over whether this marks the end of his international career.
Martínez has earned 67 caps for Argentina and kept two clean sheets while conceding eight goals across the side's eight matches at this World Cup. Writing on Instagram, he said the pain of the defeat was "hard to explain" and that he had things to reflect on, including whether to retire from the national team, while thanking fans for their support. He has also won the Yashin Trophy for the world's best goalkeeper in 2023 and 2024, and continues to play for Aston Villa, where he is under contract until 2029 despite reported interest from Juventus.
In short
- Martínez hints he may retire from Argentina duty after World Cup final loss
- Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in the 2026 final
- Martínez was 2022 World Cup winner and two-time Yashin Trophy holder
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
At 33, Martínez has achieved the pinnacle of international football, winning the World Cup in 2022 and collecting back-to-back Yashin Trophies in 2023 and 2024. A natural exit point would allow him to retire at elite level whilst his Aston Villa career continues, and create an orderly succession giving Argentina's younger goalkeepers the opportunity to develop before the next World Cup rather than waiting for an ageing player to eventually step down.
The case against
Martínez is still performing at world-class level, having just won his second consecutive Yashin Trophy in 2024, and conceded only eight goals across eight matches at the World Cup. Modern goalkeepers frequently excel into their late thirties, and he remains under contract at Aston Villa until 2029; Argentina would be premature in losing an experienced, proven leader, particularly as the team rebuilds, and one tournament loss should not overshadow his exceptional record and ongoing excellence.
Explained simply
Emiliano Martínez is Argentina's goalkeeper and one of the world's finest in his position. He was a key player in Argentina's 2022 World Cup victory, when he was named the tournament's best goalkeeper, and has since won the world's best goalkeeper award in 2023 and 2024. He currently plays for English Premier League club Aston Villa.
Martínez played in every match of Argentina's campaign at this year's World Cup, as the team aimed to defend the world title they won four years earlier. Argentina reached the final but lost 1-0 to Spain, ending their bid to retain the trophy. This was a significant setback after the team's success in 2022, when Martínez had been instrumental in their triumph.
The potential retirement of such an elite goalkeeper would be significant for Argentina's future prospects. Goalkeepers of Martínez's experience and quality do not come along often, and losing such a performer could affect the national team's plans for major tournaments ahead. At 33, this is a natural stage in his career when top players often take stock and decide whether to continue bearing the physical and mental demands of international football.
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