Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has won the 2024 Yashin Trophy, defending the laurel he won in 2023, MySportDab reports.
The prolific Argentine stopper became the first goalkeeper to win the Ballon d’Or Best Goalkeeper Award for the second time in a row, thanks to another terrific run for club and country in the said year.
He was at the heart to the Aston Villa side that defied the odds to finish 4th in the 2023-24 Premier League table and qualify for the Champions League for the first time in over decades.
Serving as the team’s first-choice goalkeeper, Martinez kept the sticks as Aston Villa continued their fairy tale rise under manager Unai Emery.
He was also impressive in Europe, reaching the last four of the UEFA Conference League before crashing out of the competition.
On the international scene, Emiliano Martinez’s signature achievement in the year was keeping the sticks as Argentina went all the way to defend the Copa America title.
He featured in the team’s all six matches as they roared to the final of the tournament and defeat Colombia to clinch the trophy.
Other top contenders for the award included France and Inter Milan’s goalkeeper Mike Maignan, PSG and Italy’s top-choice Donnarumma Gianluigi, Spain’ Unai Simon, and Real Madrid’s Andriy Lunin.
Martinez saw off the competition from the listed nominees to clinch the award, becoming the first goalkeeper to retain the award following an impressive run with club and country.
The Argentine, who is still retaining his spot as Aston Villa and Argentina’s No.1 will hope to continue producing top-level performances going forward.
