“For the other players, maybe yes, but not for me” - Emi Martinez on how he feels differently about Lionel Messi than some Argentina stars

Over the years, many Argentine players have spoken about how they felt overawed being in the presence of Lionel Messi, but Emi Martinez is different. The Aston Villa goalkeeper has been almost as important as Messi has been to the Argentina national team since his debut in 2021.

A late bloomer of sorts, it took until 2019 for Martinez to become a regular at Arsenal, despite having been at the club since 2010. Similarly, he was first in an Argentina squad in 2011 for a friendly against Nigeria, but had to wait 10 years for his debut. The Aston Villa goalkeeper was an experienced shot-stopper by the time he became a regular for his country at the Copa America in 2021.

Emi Martinez recently spoke with the Men in Blazers YouTube channel about how it was playing alongside Lionel Messi and if he ever felt in awe of the man as many others do. He revealed that while Messi is their leader and role model in the national team, he considers him to be just another teammate and jokes with him like everyone else. He said (via GOAL):

"To be fair, for the other players, maybe yes, but not for me. We are all the same, I make jokes with everyone. He has got an aura that no one has. He is someone you look up to. When you see him, whatever he does, you like to copy him. He goes to the gym, you go to the gym. He has got that aura that no one in football has.

"But for me, everyone is the same. We all joke, we have meals together. He is a lovely human being. He has a super talent and when you are born with a super talent that no one has, he is that man."

Emi Martinez immediately gained cult hero status in his first three international tournaments, winning all three of them and helping Lionel Messi clinch the missing silverware in his cabinet. La Albiceleste won the Copa America in 2021, the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and the Copa America in 2024, with Martinez winning the Golden Glove each time.

The Aston Villa man is presently regarded as the best goalkeeper in the world by virtue of receiving FIFA's The Best Men's Goalkeeper of the Year award in 2022 and 2024. He also received the Yashin Trophy from France Football in each of these years, as well.

What Emi Martinez said about Lionel Messi after 2022 World Cup triumph

Emi Martinez was greatly important to Argentina in their 2022 World Cup triumph, playing every game and being named as the Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament. The Aston Villa man saved a penalty in the shootout win over France in the final, helping his country win the trophy.

Martinez spoke To AFA Estudio after the tournament in December 2022, explaining the motivation behind his performance for La Albiceleste in Qatar. He pointed out that he was motivated to perform because he felt that Lionel Messi deserved to win the competition for all he had done in his career. He said (via MARCA):

"For me, being world champion was not an individual achievement. I wanted the collective, for my country, but then to do it for Leo was the finishing touch, because he's the guy who deserves it more than anyone else.

"Because of his humility, because of what he generates for the country, to have him in front of us is a bonus."

Lionel Messi and Emi Martinez were central to Lionel Scaloni's side's success in the last three years. They won the Copa America together over the summer, and will look to play together once more at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.