Sports

‘I don’t waste energy on futile things’: Mbappe slams Martinez over World Cup taunts

France striker, Kylian Mbappe, has lashed out at Argentina goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez, over the latter’s taunts after the World Cup Final, saying he doesn’t “waste energy on such futile things”.

Martinez called for a minute’s silence for Mbappe during his team’s dressing-room celebrations in Qatar and posed with a doll depicting the player.

“Celebrations are not my problem. I don’t waste energy on such futile things,” Mbappe said after Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) match against Strasbourg on Wednesday night.

Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick in the World Cup final, stressed that the result would not cause any issues between him and PSG teammate, Lionel Messi.

“I spoke with him after the match, I congratulated him.

“It was the quest of a lifetime for him, for me too, but I failed, so you always have to be a good sportsman,” he added.

Martinez, who also made a rude gesture with the trophy for the tournament’s best goalkeeper in the wake of Argentina’s shoot-out win on December 18, is due back to training with Aston Villa on Thursday.

The club’s manager, Unai Emery, has said he will speak to him about his celebrations.

Martinez’s antics, which also included various attempts to unsettle Les Bleus’ penalty-takers during the shoot-out, have caused consternation in France.

Former France defender, Adil Rami, called Martinez “the most hated man”, while French congressman, Karl Olive, said FIFA should rescind his best goalkeeper award.

Mbappe scored a late winner against Strasbourg on Wednesday night as PSG moved eight points clear at the top of Ligue 1.

The 24-year-old striker, won the World Cup’s Golden Boot with eight goals and is currently top of the French top-flight scoring charts with 13 goals.

The Star