Emiliano Martinez, the outstanding goalkeeper

After holding the Yashin Trophy and being named FIFA Men's Goalkeeper of the Year, it's perhaps no surprise that Emiliano Martinez was named in the EA FC 25 Team of the Year.

The Argentine also won the Copa America, winning the Golden Glove award and helped Aston Villa qualify for the Champions League in addition to reaching the semi-finals of the Conference League.

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

They are shining in tRANSFER market, bringing in a number of quality players and have combined on the pitch to play some of the most impressive football to appear in Premier League. However, much of their success has been built on a foundation firmly rooted in Martinez's goal.

One of Villa's best acts in recent years, Martinez is fast closing in on 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 supporters and gets under the skin of opponents.

Martinez's best trait is that he can back up his words, as evidenced by his increasingly impressive resume. His record for Argentina is unsurpassed, keeping 10 clean sheets during 2024, and his country's Copa America success was largely due to his stunning performance in the quarter-finals, when he saved two penalties against Ecuador.

He has been accused and even convicted of “violating the principles of fair play”, but there's no denying that Martinez is one of, if not the most, influential goalkeepers in world football at the moment. Saving 12 penalties for Argentina from a possible 24 (career to date) testament to the effect he can have on opposing players.

READ THE LATEST NEWS, TRANSFER RUMORS AND MATCH REACTION