Emiliano Martinez: From penalties to mind games

In Martinez’s three penalty shootouts for Argentina, opponents have scored only seven times from 14 attempts, a conversion rate of 50 per cent

SAFE HANDS: Argentina’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez celebrates after he saved a penalty during the shootout at the end of the World Cup final against France at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar. Pic: AP Photo/Petr David Josek

In psychology, the butterfly effect describes how small, seemingly insignificant moments can have huge, unforeseen long-term effects.

A butterfly flapping its wings and causing a typhoon on the other side of the world is an example. As is Brighton striker Neal Maupay accidentally inflicting a season-ending injury on Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno in June 2020 as the Premier League played out Project Restart after three months of pandemic lockdown.