Emiliano Martinez, the top goalkeeper

After retaining the Yashin Trophy and being named FIFA’s Best Men’s Goalkeeper, it is perhaps no surprise that Emiliano Martinez has been named in the EA FC 25 Team of the Year.

The Argentine also won the Copa America, winning the Golden Glove, and helped Aston Villa qualify for the Champions League with a place in the semi-finals of the Conference League.

Aston Villa they have undergone an impressive revival under Unai Emery, going from potential relegation fodder under Steven Gerrard to established European contenders.

They shine in transfer market, bringing in a host of quality players, and together they operated on the pitch to play some of the most impressive football on display in Premier League. Much of their success, however, has been built on a foundation firmly rooted in goal by Martinez.

One of Villa’s best acts in recent years, Martinez is fast approaching 200 appearances for the club in all competitions, where he has raised his game from good to great. A beacon of consistency in terms of performance level, he is also a vocal leader who inspires his team, his fans and gets under the skin of opponents.

Martinez’s best quality is that he can back up his words, as evidenced by his increasingly impressive resume. His record for Argentina is second to none, keeping 10 clean sheets during 2024, and his country’s Copa America success was largely thanks to his fantastic performance in the quarter-finals when he saved two penalties against Ecuador.

He has been accused and even banned for “breaching the principles of fair play”, but there is no denying that Martinez is one of, if not the most influential goalkeeper in world football at the moment. He saved 12 penalties for Argentina in shootouts out of a possible 24 (in his career so far) which is a testament to the effect he can have on opposing players.

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