“A minute of silence for Mbappé!” Emiliano Martinez cruelly mocks French superstar after World Cup final drama

Argentina penalty hero Emiliano Martinez has asked his team to observe a minute’s silence for Kylian Mbappe as he cruelly mocked the French superstar during celebrations after winning the World Cup.

Mbappe was on the losing side despite scoring a hat-trick and a penalty shootout goal in a classic final between France and Argentina in Qatar on Sunday.

Goalkeeper Martinez saved Kingsley Coman’s penalty and saw Aurelien Tchouameni miss as Argentina were crowned world champions for the first time in 36 years.

Footage was later broadcast showing the Argentina players dancing in the dressing room and chanting “a minute of silence for”, before leaving space for Martinez to shout: “For Mbappe who is dead!”

It came after Martinez comforted Mbappe on the pitch during his team’s celebrations, with the Les Bleus forward inconsolable following the defeat.

He could not resist the joke after he felt his counterpart had insulted South American football due to the continent’s failure to produce a World Cup winner since 2002.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward had previously said European teams had the advantage at World Cups because they played “high-level matches all the time”.

Martinez responded this week: “He said the level of South America is lower than the European level because he has not played there.

“If you don’t have the experience it’s difficult to comment, but there was nothing wrong with what he said. They know we’re a world-class team and they respect us for that.”

In addition to winning the World Cup, Martinez also received the Golden Glove award for the best goalkeeper of the tournament at the Lusail Stadium.

He quickly sparked further controversy by making a sexual gesture with the trophy on the pitch during post-match celebrations.

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Martinez appeared in combative mood in Qatar, telling Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal to “keep his mouth shut” after saving two penalties in the quarter-finals.

He also called referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz “useless” after a match in which 18 cards were handed out, a tournament record.