When the doors of the national team finally opened for him towards the latter stages of his career, few could have imagined that this man would go on to change the fate of Argentina. Yet what Emiliano Martínez has done since pulling on the sky-blue and white jersey has become the stuff of footballing legend. He is one of the heroes who ended the Albiceleste’s long and painful trophy drought, and that extraordinary save in the final at Lusail Stadium in Qatar will be etched in golden letters in the pages of football history forever.
If another World Cup trophy is added to his already remarkable career, what will ‘Dibu’ do next? Will he hang up his gloves? Rumours of retirement — sparked by an old exchange with his teammates — have been dismissed with a characteristic smile by Argentina’s ever-reliable shot-stopper. Martínez has no desire to think about retirement ahead of Sunday’s final. Instead, he has set all such speculation aside and is focused entirely on the golden prize of back-to-back World Cup glory.
The rumours stemmed from a comment Martínez made during a candid conversation with teammates some time ago. When the topic came up at a press conference, he laughed it off, saying, “Yes, I said that to Nico — Nicolás Tagliafico — at the AFA training ground. But before I retire, we have to win the final. My entire focus is on that. We have grown so much as a team over the years. Sometimes, when I think about what we have achieved together, it brings tears to my eyes. But there are still more beautiful moments ahead of us to enjoy.”
The 33-year-old goalkeeper also revealed that he is enjoying this tournament far more than the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. “I am enjoying this World Cup much more than the last one,” he said. “I suffered a great deal mentally after the loss to Saudi Arabia in Qatar. I did not face many shots in that match, yet I still had to concede goals. I was only able to play my true role in the penalty shootout. But this time I am playing much better with my feet. When I walk out for the final on Sunday, you will see that familiar smile on my face.”
Reflecting on his resilience and fighting mentality, Martínez said, “The opponent may score one or two goals against me, but by the very next moment I am back to being the same Dibu I have always been. No pressure on the field can get the better of me. When I put on my gloves, I have one hundred percent belief in myself. No matter what the match is, the spirit of the boy from the Barrio Jardín neighbourhood of Mar del Plata is always alive in me — and that is what keeps me the same Dibu, always.”
On the subject of Sunday’s final opponents Spain, Martínez offered a measured and respectful assessment. “They are a great team. Many of their players are in the Premier League, so I know them well. Their coach is excellent too. This team is not built around Lamine Yamal alone — their entire squad is talented and highly capable, which is exactly why they are in the final. Just as they have their strengths, so do we. I hope this turns out to be a match that football fans will remember for a very long time.”
