The governor of the Entre Ríos Province in Argentina has hailed Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez following Sunday's World Cup final win over France in Qatar.
Following a breath-taking 3-3 draw at the Lusail Stadium, which saw Argentina pegged back on two occasions, the South American giants won the showpiece event 4-2 on penalties, ensuring they lifted the World Cup for the first time since 1986.
Argentina, inspired by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, converted each of their four penalties, meaning Messi's dream of winning football's greatest prize came true. United defender Martinez, however, played no part in the final, with Tottenham Hotspur star Cristian Romero and former Manchester City defender Nicolas Otamendi preferred at centre-back.
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Martinez, who joined United from Ajax during the summer, did not play as frequently as he would have liked in Qatar, featuring in five of their seven games. He also only started twice.
But despite playing no part in Sunday's final, he has been hailed by the governor - Gustavo Bordet - of the region that he was born in. Martinez grew up in the eastern province of Entre Rios, just north of Buenos Aires, in the city of Gualeguay.
"What it means that a player like Lisandro Martínez, from a city like Gualeguay, with a lot of sacrifice and humility, has been able to be at the best levels of world football," said Bordet. "It is a very good representation for our province.
"Now you have to enjoy a lot because 36 years have passed since we won a World Cup. This group deserves it. The truth is that it is something very beautiful and it is a caress to the soul for all Entre Ríos and Argentines."
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