Contrasting background but similar passion to win

When defending champions France take on Argentina in the World Cup final tonight, all the focus will certainly be on the likes of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe. However, two men on the pitch will perhaps play as important a role, if not more, than these two – Hugo Lloris and Emiliano Martinez.

Lloris and Martinez – the two goalkeepers who will stand between the sticks at either end, often play the crucial role in deciding outcomes for club and country, but they hardly ever get the deserving credit.

Martinez knows all too well about being ignored and the hurt of not getting the proper recognition.

After spending two seasons at the Arsenal youth team, the Mar del Plata-born goalkeeper was loaned to all sorts of lower-league sides across England before finally getting the opportunity to showcase his talent as Aston Villa's number one goalkeeper in 2020. It was his exploits at Villa which helped him earn a place in the Argentina senior team, and Martinez grabbed the opportunity with both hands, leading the Albiceleste to the Copa America title with some brilliant performances last year.

The Argentina No. 1 did not hide his emotions when asked about the tough road he had to take to the top at the pre-final press conference on Saturday.

"It is difficult not to think of how hard the road is," Martinez said. "I've always been a fighter. I left home when I was 17. People in Argentina didn't even know me. It will be difficult for me to not remember everything that I've been through," Martinez said as he stands a win away from becoming a world champion.

Martinez recalled how he cried, while having a barbecue with friends, when Argentina were beaten by Germany in the 2014 World Cup final. He remembered he was just a fanboy four years before the World Cup, taking selfies with his brother in the gallery as Argentina made an early exit from the World Cup in Russia four years ago. Now Argentina are in the final and Martinez is very much a key component of the team, he can definitely dream of lifting the coveted trophy.

"I am a dreamer. I always dream big. I always fight for my dream," Martinez said.

France keeper Lloris, on the other hand, has already one World Cup to his name to go with a UEFA Nations League title and a runners-up medal in the Euros. He has been a constant fixture for Tottenham Hotspur and for France over the last decade, earning a record 144 caps for Les Bleus. Despite all that, when it comes to the talk of the best keepers in the world, Lloris is often overlooked.

That doesn't faze him though. Lloris is proving doubters wrong with fine performances in this World Cup, having not conceded a goal from open play since the second game of the group stage against Denmark.

Back in 2019, Lloris was asked to reflect on what it was like to captain a World Cup-winning team. "I don't want to say that I've forgotten about the World Cup but, for me, it belongs to the past," he replied, as he was, as the captain of the team, looking for more glory.

Born in a completely different background to that of Martinez, Lloris has vastly different characteristics in his goalkeeping and leadership, but the passion to win is the same for the Spurs keeper as it is for the Aston Villa shot-stopper.