Argentina’s shootout hero Emiliano Martinez wins the World Cup’s Golden Glove award

Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez has won the World Cup’s Golden Glove award for the best goalkeeper at the tournament in Qatar.

Villa shot-stopper Martinez was named the winner of the prize at the ceremony held after Argentina had beaten France on penalties in a thrilling World Cup final.

Martinez finished joint-top of the goalkeeping charts on three clean sheets alongside England’s Jordan Pickford and Moroccan hero Yassine Bounou. 

Emiliano Martinez claimed the Golden Glove award for the best goalkeeper at the World Cup

Martinez made another save in the penalty shootout as Argentina beat France in a thrilling final

Pickford returned to his typical career-best form with the Three Lions, conceding in just two out of five games on the team’s way to a quarter-final exit against eventual World Cup finalists France.

But the award isn’t handed out to the goalkeeper who keeps the most clean-sheets, as is the case with the Premier League’s top shot-stopper award. Instead it is decided between a panel of judges as to who they think has been the best performer between the sticks.

Pickford is currently tied with Morocco goalkeeper and Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez with each managing to go four matches without conceding, the Argentinian can top the charts if he manages to keep France’s attackers at bay in Sunday’s final.

FIFA have put together an expert Technical Study Group to decide who should be recognised as the tournament’s best goalkeeper, with Pickford likely to miss out after England were eliminated prematurely.

Argentina shot-stopper Emiliano Martinez (left) and Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou (right) have also managed four clean-sheets in Qatar

The Golden Glove award is handed to the best goalkeeper of the tournament at the World Cup

The same group also will also decide on what player should be handed the Golden Boot title, England striker Harry Kane lifted the award in 2018 after scoring six goals in the Three Lions’ run to the semi-finals.

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will lead the group having taken up a role at the global footballing body after leaving the Gunners in 2018.

Ulf Schott – FIFA’s Head of high performance – and Chris Loxston – Group Leader Football Performance Analysis and Insights – also feature on the board.

FIFA will decide who should win the award using an expert technical group led by ex-Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger

Pickford is likely to miss out on the Golden Glove after England’s quarter-final exit

73-year-old Wenger will be joined by a host of ex-legends including Germany’s Jurgen Klinsmann, former Italian manager Alberto Zaccheroni, South Korean Cha Du-Ri, Nigeria legend Sunday Oliseh, Faryd Mondragon and ex-Switzerland shot-stopper Pascal Zuberbuhler.

Football eggheads concerned with data analysis will also aid the group in their decision-making process that will see individual awards handed out after Sunday’s World Cup final.