Martinez says Kylian Mbappe 'doesn't know enough about football'

Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martinez criticised Kylian Mbappe over old comments the France striker made about the quality of South American football.

Mbappe said in May that European nations are better prepared for the World Cup because they play "high-level matches all the time" against each other, whereas Argentina and Brazil do not face the same demands.

Martinez was reminded by a reporter of those comments on Saturday before the World Cup final and fired back.

"He doesn't know enough about football. He never played in South America. When you don't have this experience, it may be better not to talk about it. But it doesn't matter. We are a great team, recognised as such," he said at a press conference.

Martinez is not the only Argentina star to speak out against Mbappe's comments. Striker Lautaro Martinez argued that what he said was "unfair", while ex-Brazil coach Tite sniped back at him by saying that Brazil don't have "Azerbaijan to play. We don't have anyone that gives you a break".

Martinez and his co-stars will be out to show Mbappe that they are even better than Les Bleus by beating them in the World Cup final on Sunday.