“God forbid the prize for the best goalkeeper of the year will be given to Martinez” – Nigmatullin

Argentine national team goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez deservedly received the prize for the best goalkeeper of the World Cup in Qatar, but he did not deserve to become the best at the end of the year, former goalkeeper of the Russian national team Ruslan Nigmatullin believes.

30-year-old Martinez became the world champion in the Argentina national team at the 2022 World Cup, and was also named the best goalkeeper of the tournament.

– There are many goalkeepers on the list of contenders for the best goalkeeper of the year who really deserve recognition. God forbid the prize will be given to Emiliano Martinez again. He and this prize will vulgarize. And he did not deserve such a prize. For one tournament it is impossible to name the goalkeeper of the year. I agree with the fact that the Argentine became the best goalkeeper of the World Cup. At this stage, he succeeded more than others.

I will single out two goalkeepers who, in my opinion, are the main contenders for the award – Alison Becker and Thibaut Courtois. These are two especially bright and stable goalkeepers of this season,” Nigmatullin said to the “Championship”.