The city that has played host to the likes of Pele, Maradona, Messi and Cafu will for the first time play host to a reigning World Cup winner whose heroics in a penalty shootout against France last December gave Argentina its first world title in 36 years.

Calcutta, July 3: Emiliano Martinez, the significant other of Argentina’s third FIFA World Cup triumph, landed here on Monday as the football-mad city continued its appointment with the stars of the spectator sport.

The city that has played host to the likes of Pele, Maradona, Messi and Cafu will for the first time play host to a reigning World Cup winner whose heroics in a penalty shootout against France last December gave Argentina its first world title in 36 years.

Amid tight security arrangements, the 2022 World Cup Golden Glove winner checked into his five-star hotel on EM Bypass. There are plenty of events lined up for Martinez over the next two days.

He was warmly welcomed by Mohun Bagan officials at the airport, where hundreds of Argentine fans waved Albiceleste’s colours.

“I feel great. It’s a wonderful country. I’m happy to be here. I’m very excited. I promised I’m going to India, so I’m here. It’s a place I’ve always wanted to come,” said Martinez at the start of his two-day visit.

Martinez, 30, will spend the morning at his hotel.

His engagements in the city will begin with a program titled ‘Tahader Katha’ in the afternoon where he would interact with approximately 500 school children in Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan.

Then he will go to Mohun Bagan where he will congratulate 10 Bangladeshi goalkeepers including Bhaskar Ganguly and Hemanta Dora.

In the evening, an exhibition game is held between Mohun Bagan All Stars and Kolkata Police All Stars.

On Wednesday, the last day of his trip, Martinez will go to the Sreebhumi Club in Lake Town, where he will be part of the ‘Paanch e Paanch’ program.

He will reward the winners of the program, in addition to participating in a youth football clinic at Santosh Mitra Square.

The Aston Villa goalkeeper flew from Dhaka to the City of Joy where he met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Calling it an “extraordinary” trip, Martinez wrote on his Instagram: “The people here, with their love, care and unparalleled hospitality, have truly melted my heart. I eagerly await my return to this beautiful country in the near future .” Martinez presented Hasina with an autographed Albiceleste jersey and he was also photographed accepting a bajpakhi (hawk).

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Prime Minister’s Office, the Police, the Airport Authority and countless others whose names I may not know, but whose efforts were no less important. You all played a part in creating this special bond that I now share with Bangladesh.

“So until my next visit I say goodbye to you and leave a piece of my heart here. I am forever charmed by baazpakhi from Bangladesh,” said Martinez.

Martinez’s visit adds to the city’s date with football legends.

Famous World Cupper of the then USSR, Lev Yashin visited the city twice – once with the Soviet team touring India in 1955 and as the main guest during the IFA Shield final in 1973.

Kolkata was then on the world football map when Brazilian great Pele along with fellow World Cup man Carlos Alberto visited New York Cosmos for an exhibition match against Mohun Bagan in 1977, generating huge interest from the city crowd.

German and Bayern Munich legend Oliver Kahn retired from competitive football by playing an exhibition match against Mohun Bagan in the summer of 2008.

Gerd Muller, Karl Heinze Rumminiege and Diego Forlan had also honored the city.

Emiliano Martinez played a vital role in Qatar’s 2022 FIFA World Cup victory over Argentina. Martinez won the Golden Glove award in Qatar and becomes the third Argentine after the late Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi to visit football-mad Kolkata.

Calcutta, May 16: It has already been confirmed that Argentina’s World Cup winning goalkeeper Emi Martinez is coming to India City of joyKolkata in July and he will visit Indian Super League champion Mohun Bagan’s club tent.

Martinez will visit Kolkata for a two-day tour and his first stop will be at India’s national club Mohun Bagan on the evening of July 4. Sports promoter Satadru Dutta, who brought legends like Diego Maradona, Pele, Cafu and Dunga to the city, made his mark again as he now brings with him a superstar of world football, who is in the prime of his life and will grace the former capital of India , just months after becoming world champion.

Kolkata has a huge loyal fanbase of the Argentina football team and the fans, who have seen Maradona and Messi before, will now follow Martinez, whose heroics helped La Albiceleste clinched their 3rd FIFA World Cup title after a long hiatus of 36 years.

For all the fans getting ready to catch a glimpse of the Aston Villa man, here’s the general schedule of the tour:

1) July 4 – Tahaader Kotha chat show at Mela Ground in Milan from 12:30 PM, followed by Chief Guest at Mohun Bagan tent celebrating the Friendship Cup match between Police All Stars and Mohun Bagan Legends from 4:30 PM. He will also inaugurate the Pele-Maradona-Sobers Gate of Mohun Bagan.
2) July 5 – Martinez will pay tribute to Argentine legend Diego Maradona at Lake Town in Kolkata at a Maradona Memorial event and he will also grace the final of the All Bengal Tie-breaker match “Pache Pach” at Sribhumi Sporting Ground. He will also spend time with underprivileged children and at the same time, he will hold a master class session at Santosh Mitra Square premises, Lebutala on the same date.
3) He will visit the esteemed Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, and will also meet Indian cricket great Sourav Ganguly.
4) During his 2-day tour, he is also expected to visit some sponsor events.
5) He will also attend a private event in Rishra on July 5.

Martinez will be staying at the 5-star JW Marriott in Kolkata.

There’s a huge menu waiting for Argentina’s World Cup hero, Emi Martinez in Kolkata.

Kolkata, July 3: FIFA World Cup 2022 winner with Argentina and currently the best goalkeeper in the world, Emiliano Martinez is all set to come to India City of joyKolkata today in the evening and the football-loving state is all set to welcome the Argentine superstar custodian.

In May, it was announced that Emi will take a two-day trip to Kolkata from July 4 to 5 and attend a number of events, including a visit to the current ISL champions, the grounds of Mohun Bagan Supergiant, and a number of interactive and sponsored events. Dibu, as he is affectionately called by his peers and loved ones, will also step into a city, which is also known for its mouth-watering cuisine and not just football, cricket and the famous landmarks.

So, on the ‘Tahader Kotha’ chat show at Mela Ground in Milan in Kolkata, Martinez gets a chance to try some of the delicious and lip-smacking Bengali dishes along with a few household names, of course with a twist.

So what is FIFA World Cup 2022 Best Goalkeeper all about?

The menu is determined by the well-known Bengali cuisine restaurant Sapadadi, as confirmed by sports promoter Satadru Dutta, who brings Dibu Martinez to town. The Aston Villa man will have a plethora of dishes to try.

Here goes the menu:-

Drink
Kancha Aamer Sorbot (Raw Mango Juice)
Lichu Lankar Sorbot (Chili Litchi Juice)
Blue Lagoon
Water

Salad
Green Salad Dish
Diced Cucumber With Pomegranate Vinaigrette
Corn paprika in Vinaigrette
Various Lettuce
Watermelon and feta cheese

Cake and Canape
Keema Matar Tart (Minced Mutton and Peas)
Onion Bell Paper Pie
Aloo Posto Canape (potato and poppy seeds)
Malai Murgi Vutta Canape (Creamy Corn And Chicken)

Main dish
Rice
Basanti Pulao (Flavored Rice)
Luchi (Indian flatbread)
Cholar Dal (chickpea split lentils)
Bhaja Masala Aloo Dam (spicy potato)
Jhuri Aloo Bhaja (thin sliced ​​potato fries)
Dhokar Dalna (lentil pie)
Potol Dolma (Pointy Gourd With Minced Fish Fillings)
Daab Chingri (Shrimp in Tender Coconut)
Ilish Paturi (steamed Hilsa fish wrapped in banana leaves)
Chittagong Chitol Muitha (Chittagong’s Clown Knife Fish nuggets dipped in gravy)
Saptapadir Abhinabha Mangsho (Saptapadi’s ‘newest’ mutton)
Kancha Lankar Murgi (Green Chili Chicken)

Dessert
Amer Chutney (Mango Chutney)
Khejur Aamshotto Chutney (Dates and Sweet Mango Poppadom Chutney)
Assorted Papad Bucket (Assorted Papadom Bucket)
Rosogolla (cottage cheese balls dipped in sugar syrup)
Pantua (fried curd balls dipped in flavorful sugar syrup, Bengali version of Gulab Jamun)
Misti Doi (sweet cottage cheese)
Lichu Lankar Payesh (Chili Litchi Rice Pudding)
Paan (Stuffed Betel Leaves for Mouth Freshener)

This is a huge menu for Emi Martinez and the Argentine goalkeeper will train 2 hours a day during his trip to keep himself in shape. He will be staying at the 5-star JW Marriott in Kolkata. He is currently enjoying his time in Bangladesh.