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Mbappe on taunting Aston Villa keeper Martinez: Why bother with such futile things?

PSG striker Kylian Mbappe insists Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez's taunts aren't bothering him.

Martinez, who was Argentina's hero in the World Cup final penalty shootout, has been goading Mbappe following the Qatar showpiece, which saw the Villa goalkeeper hold a baby doll with the PSG star's face on it during a open-top bus parade in Buenos Aires last week.

To make matters worse, Martinez held the Mbappe doll aloft while stood next to the 24-year-old's PSG team-mate Lionel Messi. This also followed Martinez brutally mocking Mbappe during Argentina's dressing room celebrations by calling for a minute's silence for the French striker. It came even though the 30-year-old was seen as one of the first people to console Mbappe following France's gut wrenching defeat.

"The celebrations, they're not my problem," Mbappe told reporters when asked about Martinez's actions following PSG's 2-1 win over Strasbourg.

"I don't waste any energy on such futile things. What's important for me is to give the best of myself for my club, and we're looking forward for Leo (Messi) to turn to continue scoring and winning matches."

Mbappe, who scored a 95th-minute penalty to win the game for PSG on Wednesday night, couldn't help but make a pointed jab at Martinez by claiming Argentina team-mate Lionel Messi was a "good sportsman".

"I talked with him (Messi) after the match (World Cup), I congratulated him," Mbappe added. "It was a life's goal for him, for me as well, but I failed, so you must always remain a good sportsman.

"Personally, I will never get over it (losing the final). But my club is not responsible for this failure of our team, (so) I've tried to return with the most positive energy possible."

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Paul Vegas

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