Kylian Mbappe Finally Responds To Emiliano Martinez Baby Doll Taunts

Kylian Mbappe has broken his silence on Argentina keeper, Emiliano Martinez’s “futile” taunts following his country’s World Cup final victory over France.

Martinez became an Argentine hero after his decisive extra-time save and a gargantuan penalty shootout display. But the goalkeeper has taunted Mbappe several times since lifting the World Cup and being awarded the Golden Glove, despite the forward netting a hat-trick and shootout strike against him.

Martinez most notably held a baby doll with the PSG star’s face on it during the open-top bus parade in Buenos Aires last week – while standing alongside Mbappe’s club teammate Lionel Messi.

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But the 24-year-old insists he is unbothered by the incessant goading by his rival, who also mocked the striker by asking for a minute’s silence during Argentina’s post-game dressing room celebrations.

Following PSG’s 2-1 win over Strasbourg, Mbappe said: “The celebrations, they’re not my problem. I don’t waste any energy on such futile things.

“What’s important for me is to give the best of myself for my club, and we’re looking forward to Leo [Messi] returning to continue scoring and winning matches.”

Mbappe went on to suggest Martinez was not a good sportsman by praising his club teammate and Argentina captain Messi.

“I talked with him [Messi] after the match [World Cup], I congratulated him,” Mbappe said. “It was a life goal for him, for me as well, but I failed, so you must always remain a good sportsman.

“Personally, I will never get over it [losing the final]. But my club is not responsible for this failure of our team, [so] I’ve tried to return with the most positive energy possible.”

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Mbappe and Martinez appeared on friendly terms when the latter consoled him after France’s defeat – and they posed with the Golden Glove and Golden Boot prizes. But the ex-Arsenal man has since openly mocked Mbappe more than once.

It is understood Martinez’s animosity towards Mbappe stems from a comment he made six months before the World Cup. Mbappe had said: “The advantage we have in Europe is that we play among ourselves with high-level matches all the time, such as the Nations League.

“When we arrive at the World Cup, we are ready, where Brazil and Argentina do not have this level in South America. Football is not as advanced as in Europe. That’s why at the last World Cups, it’s always the Europeans who win.”

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