Mbappe has finally responded to Argentina goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez over his mockery celebrations of him after the 2022 Qatar FIFA World Cup final.
Martinez called for “Minutes of Silence for Mbappe” in the Argentina dressing room after the World Cup final, and during their trophy parade in Buenos Aires, he was pictured with a toy in his hands as “Baby Mbappe” which has been widely condemned.
Tensions had started between Mbappe and Martinez long before the kickoff after the PSG Forward suggested that European nations come into tournaments like the World Cup better prepared due to the competitiveness of most European leagues compared to those in South America.
Martinez responded by claiming that Mbappe lacks sufficient knowledge of South American football, and after Argentina defeated France in the final of the Qatar World Cup to lift the trophy for the third time in their history, the Aston Villa goalkeeper used every opportunity to mock him despite conceding three goals including another goal in the shootouts from the 24-year-old rapid forward.
France lost the final to the La Albiceleste on post-match penalty shootouts following a 3-3 draw in regulation time in a match that saw Mbappe score two penalties and a volley for his nation to become just the second player in football history to score a hat-trick in the final.
However, in response to Martinez’s celebrations, Mbappe said after PSG’s 2-1 win over Stransbourg that he was not concentrating on that but focusing on helping his club.
“Celebrations are not my problem,” he told Journalists. “I don’t waste energy on such trivial things. The most important thing for me is to give the best of myself for my club.”
The 2018 World Cup and 2022 Golden Boot winner added that he was trying to move past his setback in Qatar and concentrate on his duties at PSG.
“I’ll never digest it. But like I told my coach and teammates, there’s no reason that my club should pay for a defeat with my national team, it’s two different situations.”
Mbappe returned to League action last night with a goal to his name after scoring from the spot in the dying minutes of the match to secure victory for the reigning French champions.
