Martinez came to repay Bangladeshi fans’ love

Argentina's World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez said he came to Bangladesh to repay the faith of the millions of fans who supported his team through the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The 30-year-old spoke of his early struggles and his football philosophy as well as his philosophy on life during a candid interview with the organisers of his brief visit to Bangladesh, Next Ventures, at the company's office in Dhaka yesterday.

"I knew about Bangladeshi people and their craze about Argentina, but after we won the Copa America, the marketing people said there were many followers in Bangladesh. Then I started searching about Bangladesh, and during the World Cup, what I saw was crazy," the goalkeeper, who plies his trade at Premier League side Aston Villa, said during the interview.

"One of the reasons I decided to come was to repay the love," Martinez said, adding that he would love to come with the rest of the Argentina team to play a match here.

The Mar del Plata native relayed during the interview his early struggles and the sacrifices he made to become a better professional and a better human being.

"I left home at the age of 12 to be a professional footballer and help my family to survive…Over the years I've been obsessed with becoming a better person and a player," Martinez said. "I don't smoke; I don't drink…I left nightclubs for training. You have to leave a lot of stuff out in order to make it."

Martinez re-lived the moments of the World Cup final, when he saved a shot from France's Kolo Muani right at the death and then saved a couple of shots in the penalty shoot-out to help the Albiceleste win their third World Cup. He showed the tattoo of the World Cup trophy, emblazoned on his left leg, the leg which made that iconic save against Muani.

When asked what made him so competitive by the interviewees, which included two top officials of NEXT Ventures and State Minister for ICT, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, the Argentine goalkeeper replied: "The obsession and passion I have got, I don't think many have. I think many goalkeepers are more talented than me but the passion and the work I do (are not matched by many)… I never relax. Once I'm in my comfort zone, I'll put my gloves away and retire."