ASTON VILLA goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has dropped a huge retirement hint, pinpointing exactly when he could hang up his boots.
Martinez established himself as the world’s best keeper after helping Argentina to the World Cup final two years ago.
AlamyEmiliano Martinez has hinted at when he could retire[/caption]
GettyMartinez won the World Cup with Argentina in 2022[/caption]
The 32-year-old’s heroics both during the match and the penalty shootout saw La Albiceleste lift the iconic gold trophy in Qatar.
He won the Golden Glove and was subsequently awarded the Yashin Trophy the following two years.
And this week he made history by becoming the first-ever two-time winner of FIFA’s The Best Men’s Goalkeeper award.
Amid all of his individual success, Martinez is now seeking more glory on the international stage.
He wants to become a two-time World Cup champion with Argentina.
And if he manages it in 2026, the goalkeeper insists he will hang up his boots.
He told AFA Estudio: “Is there any national team that has won two World Cups in a row?
“If I become a two-time world champion with the Argentine national team, I will retire.
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GettyMartinez says he will retire if he wins the World Cup again in 2026[/caption]
“I promise you. I’m telling you today. I will retire after that World Cup.”
After being called “old” by Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez during the interview, the goalkeeper went on to add: “I’ve only just turned 32, my friend, I’ll be 33 at the World Cup, a young lad. I started playing when I was 30, what do you want?!”
Martinez also admitted that he came close to retiring from international football after the 2022 World Cup final.
He continued: “I get to the dressing room, and I see Cuti Romero and Marito crying.
“Then I said: ‘No, that’s it, I’m retiring from the national team. That’s it, I’ve achieved everything’. It was my dream.
“Then I passed Paulo Dybala crying and when I hugged him, I started crying like a child thinking about what I suffered in England.”
The next World Cup will be held in 2026 across the USA, Canada and Mexico.
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