"He leaves a massive void," Emiliano Martínez said of Lionel Messi, as Argentina's captain edges towards the end of his international run. Argentina beat Burkina Faso 7-0 at the Estadio Monumental on Saturday night, and Martinez said he wants to enjoy the final days with Messi before the farewell match on October 6.

Martinez's own focus is different, but the emotional thread is the same. He recorded his 45th clean sheet in 69 international appearances and said the pain of the World Cup final took time to clear. "It took me a while to think; losing the World Cup final hurt a lot," he said, before adding that changing clubs helped him mentally reset.

Chelsea's role in the reset

"I tried changing clubs to mentally refresh myself, and I succeeded," Martinez said. "I came here [to Chelsea], and it was the best thing I did because I feel useful, fast, and good." He has already made 4 Premier League appearances for Chelsea, which gives some weight to the idea that the move has done more than just change his scenery.

Peter Schmeichel was even more direct about the deal. Speaking to Metro, he said: "He's only costing them £7.5 million, top, top, world-class goalkeeper. Top, top, £7.5m." That came alongside a claim that Martinez could be the signing of the season, and it is easy to see why Chelsea wanted a goalkeeper who could settle quickly.

Argentina's No. 10 debate

The broader Argentina conversation is already moving on to succession. Martinez backed Nico Paz as the favourite to inherit the No. 10 shirt, saying, "There are several boys who would deserve it. But the favorite is Nico Paz." Paz has 1 goal and 1 assist in 5 Serie A appearances, a tidy start that at least gives the pick some support.

Martinez did not hide the emotional scale of Messi's exit, but he also sounded calm about the next phase. Argentina will feel the loss of their captain, and the early signs are that Martinez expects the team to lean on personality as much as reputation. He will get another chance to say goodbye on October 6, after the 7-0 win over Burkina Faso.

FAQ

Why does Emiliano Martinez say Messi's retirement will matter so much for Argentina?

Martinez says Messi leaves a massive void, but he also believes Argentina still have players with real personality. He wants to enjoy the final moments with Messi, saying they will try to cherish the little time they have left together. He also pointed to the farewell match on October 6 after Argentina's 7-0 win over Burkina Faso.

How has Chelsea helped Emiliano Martinez after the World Cup final?

Martinez said changing clubs helped him mentally refresh himself and that he succeeded by coming to Chelsea. He also said the move was the best thing he did because he feels useful, fast and good. He has already made 4 Premier League appearances for Chelsea.

Who does Emiliano Martinez think could inherit Argentina's No. 10 shirt?

Martinez backed Nico Paz as the favourite to inherit Argentina's No. 10 shirt. Paz has 1 goal and 1 assist in 5 Serie A appearances, which gives some weight to that view. Martinez said several boys would deserve it, but singled out Paz as the favourite.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →