Martinez parades goalkeeper awards and justifies them with wonder save for Villa in Champions League

Emi Martinez began the night by walking onto the field with his children and parading a pair of trophies for being the world’s best goalkeeper for the last two years.

He finished it by producing an astonishing save that vindicated those awards.

The Argentina international illuminated a 0-0 draw between his Aston Villa team and Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday by plucking the ball from behind him and scooping it off the goal line to deny Francisco Conceição what could have been the winner.

Replays showed the ball was almost entirely over the line before Martinez hooked it clear, and the goalkeeper was quickly congratulated by his teammates.

No save by Martinez will ever beat the one he pulled off for Argentina in the last seconds of extra time in the 2022 World Cup final, denying France striker Randal Kolo Muani and keeping teammate Lionel Messi’s dream alive of finally winning soccer’s biggest prize.

He might just have run it close.

It was fitting he produced his wonder save against Juve on the night he showed off the two Yashin Trophies he claimed at the Ballon d’Or awards ceremony in each of the past two years. The most recent one came last month.

As for Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio, he finished the game relieved that what appeared to be a mistake in the final seconds of stoppage time didn't cost his team.

Di Gregorio spilled a cross under pressure from Villa defender Diego Carlos and Morgan Rogers was there to poke the ball into the net.

A goal was awarded by the on-field referee but after a two-minute check, it was ruled out for a foul on Di Gregorio by Carlos.

“I think it was soft," Villa striker Ollie Watkins said. “Maybe in the Premier League it’s a goal. But in Europe the goalkeepers are protected a lot.”

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Aston Villa's Diego Carlos battles for the ball with Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio during the UEFA Champions League opening phase soccer stage match at Villa Park, Birmingham, England, Wednesday Nov. 27, 2024. (David Davies/PA via AP)

Juventus players leave the pitch after the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Astin Villa and Juventus at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024.(AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

Aston Villa's Diego Carlos battles for the ball with Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio during the UEFA Champions League opening phase soccer stage match at Villa Park, Birmingham, England, Wednesday Nov. 27, 2024. (David Davies/PA via AP)

A general view as pyrotechnics are set off during pre-match entertainment before the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Astin Villa and Juventus at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (David Davies/PA via AP)

Aston Villa fans hola a banner before the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Astin Villa and Juventus at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024.(AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez makes a save on Juventus' Francisco Conceicao during the UEFA Champions League opening phase soccer stage match at Villa Park, Birmingham, England, Wednesday Nov. 27, 2024. (Nick Potts/PA via AP)

Aston Villa's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez talks to his players during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Astin Villa and Juventus at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024.(AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The state Legislature has endorsed a bill that would raise royalty rates for new petroleum development on prime pieces of land in New Mexico, on one of the world's most prolific oil production areas.

A 37-31 vote on Thursday sent the bill from the Statehouse to Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham for consideration.

The proposal would increase the top royalty rate for oil and gas development from 20% to 25% on New Mexico's state trust lands with implications for the energy industry in the Permian Basin, which overlaps southeastern New Mexico and western Texas. The area accounted for 46% of U.S. oil production in 2023, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

New Mexico deposits royalty payments from oil and gas development in a multibillion-dollar investment trust that benefits public schools, universities and hospitals.

“We have a legal duty to maximize the return on these assets,” said Democratic state Rep. Matthew McQueen of Galisteo, a co-sponsor of the bill.

Legislative approval was the culmination of a yearslong effort backed by Public Lands Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard to increase top-tier royalty rates. A year ago, Garcia Richard put a hold on lease sales indefinitely for coveted tracts while advocating for the rate increase.

Proponents say neighboring Texas already charges up to 25% on state trust land amid intense competition to drill in the Permian Basin. The royalty changes in neighboring New Mexico would not go into effect in Texas.

Opponents say the rate change threatens to penalize petroleum producers and public beneficiaries, noting that oil production is significantly taxed in other ways and hinges on volatile commodity prices.

In a news release, Garcia Richard said the goal is “to make as much money as possible for school kids and our public institutions.”

“Raising the oil and gas royalty rate on premium state lands was always the right thing to do," she said.

Garcia Richard, a Democrat, terms out of office as land commissioner in 2026 and this week announced her candidacy for lieutenant governor.

New Mexico is the No. 2 state for oil production behind Texas.

Efforts by New Mexico to save and invest portions of a financial windfall from local oil production are paying dividends as state government income on investments is forecast to surpass personal income tax collections.

The state’s land grant permanent fund currently distributes about $1.2 billion a year to beneficiary schools, universities and hospitals as well as the state general fund.

New Mexico state government relies heavily on a financial windfall linked to oil production amid increasing concerns about the connection between climate change and natural disasters including wildfires.

A coalition of environmental groups praised the passage of bills this week that would underwrite local clean energy and environmental sustainability projects and related job training.

But Albuquerque-based attorney Gail Evans of the Center for Biological Diversity vowed to press forward with a lawsuit against the state seeking compliance with the “pollution control clause” in the New Mexico Constitution on behalf of Native Americans who live near oil wells.

“Our legislators didn’t even take the tiny step of ensuring our kids are protected from dangerous oil and gas pollution when they’re at school,” said Evans, alluding to a stalled bill to restrict oil and gas operations within a mile (1.6 kilometers) of school property.

FILE - Pumpjacks are visible before sunrise Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, in Hobbs, N.M. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

FILE - New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham waves during the Democratic National Convention, Aug. 20, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

FILE - Pumpjacks work in a field near Lovington, N.M., on April 24, 2015. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)