Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez has sought to ease any tension with PSG striker Kylian Mbappe after the World Cup.

Martinez spoke to France Football in an attempt to clarify his World Cup taunts after Argentina's victory over France.

He said: "It was a joke with my teammates. I had already done it in the Copa America, everyone said to me, even Leo: 'There is no way I can do it anymore'. I did it for them, nothing more. Everything lasted a second and that's it.

"It's a dressing room thing and it should never have come out. When France beat us in 2018, I remember that there were chants about Messi... In the same way, if a team beats Brazil, they will sing about Neymar to them. I have nothing against Mbappé, it's nothing personal. I respect him a lot. If we sing about him or Neymar, it's because they're crack."

As for the Mbappé doll that he showed on the bus during the Buenos Aires parade, he explained: "Many of them were thrown at us by the public and that one had reached my feet. The time to pick it up and send it back, two seconds. How could I tease him? He scored 4 goals against me in the final... He must think I'm his doll! I have a lot of respect for him, he's the best Frenchman I've seen and I told him after the final that he had a great game, that it was a pleasure to play against him, who almost won the match by himself.

"I had confirmation that he has immense talent. When Leo (Messi) retires, I'm sure Kylian will win many Ballon d'Ors."