“Resilient”, this is probably the adjective that would most accurately describe Emiliano Martinez. In any case, this is the perception of the person concerned when he is invited to comment on his journey. “For me, it was harder than for others, but I knew I had talent, passion and I always put in the work. During the 2018 World Cup, I was in the stands as a spectator. At that moment, I told my brother: ‘In four years, in Qatar, I will be the goalkeeper of this team’» he rewinded in an interview with The Team in February. A success that is his by right and to which no one can take credit for mentoring. Who could have imagined such a frantic trajectory, five years ago, when he was still playing at Reading, a modest Championship club? Not many people besides him. “A few years ago, it’s true that I told myself that maybe it wasn’t for me. (football). Then, four years ago, I started working with a psychologist, who helped me keep from hitting rock bottom. I got back up. My son was born during this period and I decided to no longer agree to go on loan.»
As opportunities presented themselves to him, the “Dibu” (his nickname given because of his resemblance to the main character of an Argentine cartoon) knew how to weave his web with method and application, to the point of establishing himself today as a true icon in his country. Since that disastrous tricolor night of Lusail on December 18, where he joined his hands – and his left calf – to the eternal, the 31-year-old goalkeeper has been praised to the skies, sanctified, and is akin to a true model among the youngest. In Argentina, seeing a child reproduce their extravagant haircut, or wearing a jersey printed with their name, has become commonplace. A mark of affection which particularly touches him, he who has now taken a liking to reproducing his famous dance step every time the supporters invite him to do so during matches. Another proof of the popular enthusiasm it generates: the exponential rise in its number of subscribers on social networks. At the time of the Copa América final won by Argentina in July 2021, Martínez was followed by some 775,000 fans on Instagram. Today, the Argentinian totals 13 million.
Emiliano Martínez is not just a showman
If his mischievous character and his multiple attacks had the gift of annoying French supporters after the World Cup, the backlash has not yet affected him. There is the reason for a fairly relative adversity since (Panama, Curaçao, Indonesia among others), yes, but also the presence of a reliable goalkeeper, which it would be dishonest to pass over in silence. Obviously expected around the corner after being familiar with the summits with Argentina, the “Dibu” has since settled there. No need to delve into apothecary accounts: he has not conceded a single goal in 2023. “He’s a beast, it makes me happy for him. The great credit goes to him, and to the whole team. It’s not easy to score a goal for him, and it shows everyone’s commitment when it comes to defending. He deserves it because he is a phenomenon and a character”praised Lionel Messi about him in recent weeks.
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Moreover, Martínez has just broken the record for invincibility in the Argentine selection, previously held by Germán Burgos, who had kept a clean sheet for 606 minutes between 1998 and 1999. Little worried against Paraguay on Thursday, the Aston Villa goalkeeper thus extended the record to 622 minutes, further inscribing his name in gold ink in the Argentinian legend. “It’s a very special day for my family and I to have broken this unbeaten record in the history of the national team. Without this team of lions I would have had no chance, thank you all”, he posted on his Instagram account after adding this new brand to his list. Daily life Olé did not do half-heartedly after this new record: “At the Monumental, he once again experienced what he is: an earthly hero. Because Dibu is the man who started from nothing, not the Superman like Messi. “It’s an icon that was still anonymous two years ago, but that little ones embrace with tenderness and respect today.”
His transfer to Aston Villa as a tipping point
There is no point in speculating about the trajectory that the Argentinian would have taken if he had not left Arsenal in 2020. Today, the goalkeeper trained at Independiente is making good time for Unai’s Aston Villa Emery, and so much the better. “Before, I listened perhaps a little too much to outside opinions, even when I didn’t feel it. But it was me who decided to go to Aston Villa. It was my decision. I knew it was going to work.”he confided to France Football after the World Cup. After two first seasons finished in the second half of the table with the Villans (11th in 2021, 14th in 2022), Martínez and his teammates took the slider to heights which had not been reached since 2010 by the Birmingham club , with a 7th qualifying place for the Europa Conference League.
And at the start of the season, the state of grace still floats above Villa Park. Undefeated at home in the league (3 wins in 3 matches), Unai Emery’s players have entered the TOP 5 of the Premier League alongside Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool. And even though Emiliano Martínez doesn’t score goals, he saves so many that it’s still huge. During the Villans’ victory against Chelsea at the end of September at Stamford Bridge (0-1), he disgusted Nicolas Jackson, Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell, each in turn. A way of confirming that he had his napkin ring at the table of the best goalkeepers in the championship. If Unai Emery was doubtful about the idea of keeping it when he returned from the World Cup 10 months ago, the Argentinian knew how to keep his back strong and open his eyes. In fact, beating the odds is a bit like the story of Emiliano Martínez.
