Thanks to his crucial saves, the goalkeeper became a pillar of Argentina’s spine in Qatar.
When teams are built from back to front, as the saying goes, Argentina assembled a golden foundation over two years. Emiliano Martinez established himself as the national standard because of big saves at decisive moments and because his charisma extended beyond the grass. His persona in the penalty shootout against Colombia, with the famous line about watching and feasting on the moment, endeared him to Argentine fans. And his decisive stop in the World Cup final against France sealed that bond for good.
His numbers are remarkable: in 27 matches he kept 18 clean sheets, suffered only one defeat, and collected a Copa America title, a Finalissima, and a World Cup. He worked confidently with every central defender, yet a strong rapport formed with Cristian Romero and Nicolás Otamendi, with eight straight games without a goal conceded while all three were on the field together.
Martinez made his official national team debut on June 4, 2021, in a 1-1 draw with Chile during the South American qualifiers. The chance came after bad news: Franco Armani, then the Albiceleste starter, tested positive for COVID-19, leaving Lionel Scaloni to hand the reins to the Aston Villa keeper, who had enjoyed a dream season and would later be recognized as one of the Premier League’s top glovemen that year.
From that moment, the goalkeeper owned his chance. He lived a dream night in the Copa América semi-final against Colombia, saving three penalties in the shootout and helping Argentina lift the title at the Maracanã, delivering performances that solidified his status in the national team lore.
Yet the World Cup journey began with a shock: in his tournament debut, Saudi Arabia stunned Argentina in a result that marked the team’s first defeat in 36 games and Dibu’s first loss with Argentina. The relief arrived in the win over Mexico, where his handling of a free-kick near a corner without a rebound stood out as a highlight of the night.
The World Cup run featured epic moments, including a stubborn defense to shut down Australia to avoid a shootout in the quarterfinals, a key save against the Netherlands to keep the dream alive, and a dramatic late intervention in the final against Kolo Muani that helped Argentina clinch the title. Off the field, his confidence and voice sparked chatter and even spirited exchanges, adding to his growing legend.
Arguably, he emerged as the squad’s second most beloved figure. His jersey became a prized possession for young fans who embraced him as a new hero.
The Dibu couldn’t hold back the tears
Ahead of the 2-0 victory over Panama in the opening game as world champions, the goalkeeper was among the most emotional as the team sang the national anthem. He stood shoulder to shoulder with the most celebrated players, an image that underscored his deep connection with the squad and the country.
THE EMOTION OF THE DRAWING
The Argentina national team’s goalkeeper could not suppress his tears as the team left the field after a hard-fought win. attribution: TyC Sports
— TyC Sports
Source: Goal