Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez has hinted at a possible retirement from international football after his team’s disappointing 1-0 loss to Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
BBC reports that Martínez is considering whether it is “time to step aside” from international football following the heartbreaking defeat.
“I dreamt we’d win it again. I dreamt of bringing it back to Argentina and making history once more,” Martínez wrote in a post on Instagram.
“The truth is, the pain is hard to explain. There are many things to reflect on, how to move forward, and if it’s time to step aside,” he added.
“I’m so sorry. I truly tried my best to help my country and my teammates,” he said.
The 33-year-old Aston Villa goalkeeper has earned 67 caps for Argentina and played every minute of the team’s eight World Cup matches, keeping two clean sheets and conceding eight goals.
A World Cup winner in Qatar in 2022, Martínez also won the Golden Glove award as the tournament’s best goalkeeper and later claimed the Yashin Trophy for the world’s best goalkeeper at the Ballon d’Or awards in 2023 and 2024.
He has played for Aston Villa since 2020 and has a contract running until 2029, although he has been linked with a move to Italian side Juventus this summer.