Not content with the backlash he received at the World Cup, Emiliano Martinez has recreated the crude gesture he made in Qatar, this time alongside his Argentina team-mates in a chaotic homecoming for the players.
After winning the World Cup in December, the Aston Villa goalkeeper held his Golden Glove award, a gold-plated hand, to his groin and waved it about at the post-match ceremony at the Lusail Stadium in Doha.
Three months on, Martinez was in Buenos Aires as Argentina faced Panama in their first match since winning the World Cup and amid wild celebrations at the Monumental Stadium, Guido Rodríguez, Gerónimo Rulli, Germán Pezzella and Marcos Acuña happily joined Martinez in replicating the gesture with a replica of the trophy.
On the pitch, Lionel Messi scored a late free kick to complete a 2-0 win, the 800th goal of his illustrious career, in front of 80,000 fans.
Atlanta United’s Thiago Almada put Argentina ahead after capitalising on a rebound following a free kick by Messi that hit the post.
“I always dreamed of this moment, to celebrate with you in my country Argentina, lifting the greatest thing that is the World Cup,” Messi said at a post-match ceremony to celebrate the country’s third World Cup and first in 36 years.
“Let’s keep doing what we are doing and enjoy this, because we have been waiting a long time to win it again. Let’s enjoy the third star.”
Manager Lionel Scaloni tearfully added: “Eternal gratitude to these players. Football belongs to them, and without them we wouldn’t have won the World Cup.
“Everyone who wears this shirt gives their all and sometimes the results don’t come. But this time we got it and it’s incredible.”
It was a carnival-like atmosphere as the players’ families joined them on the pitch and each of the players proceeded to lift a replica of the World Cup trophy in celebration.
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