Lionel Messi has sent a message to one Aston Villa ace who is having an outstanding summer for his national team.
Since Unai Emery joined Aston Villa, the Midlands club have been transformed to a top side under the Spaniard’s tutelage.
Villa achieved Champions League football last season after finishing in fourth place under the Spaniard and the club are set to be in for a busy summer.
Whilst players may be arriving at Villa Park this summer, Emery will not forget the influence made by his current crop of Villa stars with Emiliano Martinez a particular stand out.
Messi hails Villa ace as the best in the world
Argentina have progressed through to the semi-finals of the Copa America after beating Ecuador in a dramatic penalty shootout.
Things looked to be going south for Lionel Scaloni’s side after Lionel Messi’s panenka penalty came back off the crossbar.
Martinez, as he so often does, proved to be the hero for his national team as he denied two Ecuadorian players from the spot as Argentina advanced to the last four of the tournament.
This is not the first time that Martinez has proven to be the hero for his country as he was pivotal during Argentina’s run to World Cup glory in 2022.
Martinez was influential against the Netherlands and France in the final and he has been pivotal at the Copa America, which has led to some high praise from Messi.
Writing on Instagram, Messi said: “We suffered a lot against a tough opponent. We passed to the semis thanks to everyone’s work and on top of that we have the best goalkeeper in the world Emi Martinez.”
Martinez continues to prove himself as one of the world’s best
As Messi put it, the former Arsenal goalkeeper has fully established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Certainly from the spot, Martinez has proved beyong question that he is the best in the world as he can get into the head of the opposition penalty taker.
Martinez has been one of the few names to deny Bruno Fernandes from the spot and the Argentine’s stock continues to rise after another brilliant international performance.
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