Emiliano Martínez arrived at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday with a confidence that stretched well beyond the goal line. He wore a cap celebrating Argentina‘s recent international triumphs, including their victory over France in the 2022 World Cup final. Even more striking was his new haircut, which featured a dyed strip in Argentina’s national colors. For many in Paris, it felt like Martínez was itching for a confrontation.
His history with France is well-documented. He famously irked Les Bleus during that dramatic World Cup penalty shootout, then fueled tensions again when Aston Villa knocked Lille OSC out of the Europa League last season. After that match, Martínez remarked, “They insulted me the whole match. I’ve never been insulted so much in my whole life. They did everything to me, and I did nothing in return for 120 minutes.”
Neither side seems ready to move on. Fans in France have ridiculed Martínez, and his every move was scrutinized on Wednesday. Even so, the goalkeeper’s decision to arrive dressed in Argentine-centric gear and bold hairstyle felt like he was adding salt to old wounds.
A striking display and heated critique
Former France and Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit took notice. He spoke to the radio show Rothen s’enflamme before the match and didn’t hold back. “I blame Martínez for going too far. Enough is enough,” Petit said. “I’m the first to accept that teasing is part of football and life in general, but it shouldn’t constantly descend into denigration, it shouldn’t be disrespectful, it shouldn’t descend into harassment.”
Petit added that he believes Martínez’s consistent need for provocation is unnecessary. “We have the impression that in every match, we expect something out of bounds from him. I think he’s a very good goalkeeper, and he doesn’t need this extreme motivation. But everywhere he goes, he leaves an exasperating image of his behavior.”
He referenced a recent interview in which Martínez insisted he never crossed the line. Petit disagreed, pointing to what he sees as the keeper’s skewed sense of boundaries. “He recently said in an interview that he never goes too far… The boy needs to undergo psychotherapy, to see a psychiatrist, because we don’t have the same definition of what is out of bounds. This guy, frankly, needs to learn to control himself emotionally.”
It remains to be seen how Martínez will respond to Petit’s comments. For now, he shows no sign of toning down his bravado, and the rift between him and French supporters only grows deeper. Whether his freshly dyed strip of hair was meant to taunt or simply to celebrate, it has brought him renewed attention—and plenty of criticism—in the City of Light.
