Why Emi Martinez will have special World Cup kit privilege during Argentina vs Austria

Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez will be afforded a special FIFA privilege related to the kit he wears during his side’s World Cup group-stage match against Austria.

Argentina got their World Cup defence off to a flying start thanks to Lionel Messi’s hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Algeria on Matchday 1.

The South Americans continue their campaign against Group J opponents Austria on June 22, with the Europeans having secured a 3-1 victory over Jordan in their tournament opener.

And while any questions surrounding Messi’s fitness appeared to have been banished following Argentina’s opener, several fans still had questions about the small alterations made to his kit.

Messi is one of five players wearing a Legacy Patch throughout the tournament, recognising the fact that he has made more than five appearances at World Cups.

READ NEXT: Zlatan Ibrahimovic delivers the most brutal analysis of the World Cup so far after Belgium vs Iran

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Croatia’s Luka Modrić, Germany’s Manuel Neuer and Japan’s Yuto Nagatomo are the other four players wearing the patch.

England’s Harry Kane, France’s Kylian Mbappé and Colombia’s James Rodríguez are the three players permitted to wear the Golden Boot winners’ patch due to their exploits in 2022, 2018 and 2014, respectively.

And while Messi’s kit has attracted most of the attention, his Argentina team-mate Martínez is one of three goalkeepers wearing Golden Glove patches throughout the tournament.

Martínez, Belgium’s Thibaut Courtois and Neuer are all wearing the designated patch, having won the Golden Glove in 2022, 2018 and 2014, respectively.

World Cup debutants are also wearing patches to mark their maiden appearances at the tournament.

It’s not just individual patches being worn, though, with teams that have previously won the tournament — England, France, Germany, Spain, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay — also sporting a gold badge on their chests.

Teams that have not won the tournament are wearing either black or white patches, depending on the colour of their kits.

What happens to the patches after the tournament?

After the tournament, the patches will be removed from the shirts before being turned into physical memorabilia included in Topps trading cards as part of FIFA’s deal with the brand, which is owned by Fanatics.

However, the agreement does not begin until 2031, when FIFA’s deal with Panini comes to an end.

“This deal starts in a few years’ time and will run across several years and multiple tournaments, but it also includes the first-ever player jersey patch programme, which will actually kick off at this upcoming FIFA World Cup,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said earlier this year.