In Buenos Aires, Emiliano Martínez grew up knowing hunger before he knew fame. His father often unemployed, his mother scraping to keep the family afloat — little Emiliano once confessed he cried when his parents couldn’t afford food. Football was more than a dream. It was survival.
At just 17, he left Argentina for Arsenal, chasing hope in a foreign land. But instead of glory, he found silence. Years went by as a forgotten man in the reserves, sent on loan after loan — Oxford, Rotherham, Getafe, Reading. Always a backup, never a headline. The whispers followed him: “Not good enough. Just another reserve keeper.”
But Martínez never broke. He waited. He trained. He carried the weight of his family’s sacrifices on his back. Then in 2020, when Arsenal needed him most, he stepped into the spotlight. He played with fire, with tears, with destiny. He lifted the FA Cup. He earned his place.Two years later, he stood in Lusail Stadium, Qatar, in the biggest final of all. Mbappé, France, history itself — all against him. Yet Martínez spread his arms, made the saves, played the mind games. Argentina crowned champions. A boy once forgotten became the guardian of a nation. From poverty to Premier League, from benchwarmer to world-beater — Emiliano Martínez’s journey is proof that legends are not born. They’re built in struggle.
What the Football World Is Saying
🗣️Unai Emery:“Emiliano Martínez is the best goalkeeper in the world.”
🗣️Lionel Messi: “Dibu is fundamental… When they come to him, he always responds.”
🗣️Pep Guardiola: “He’s an exceptional goalkeeper.”
Player Profile
Full Name: Damian Emiliano Martínez Romero
Date of Birth: 02.09.1992 (33)
Place of Birth: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Nationality: Argentine
Height: 1.95m
Preferred Foot: Right
Position: Goalkeeper
- Club: Aston Villa
What Makes Estevao Special
🔹Shot-Stopping Excellence: He doesn’t just block shots — he bends games. Lightning reflexes, towering reach, and a calmness that unnerves strikers.
🔹The Penalty Specialist: The master of mind games. Dancing, pointing, smirking — Martínez steps into the penalty taker’s head before they strike. World Cup 2022 is his masterpiece.
🔹Ball Distribution: In an era of sweeper-keepers, he stands out. Patient with the ball, confident under pressure, able to launch Villa counters or help Argentina breathe in tense moments.
🔹Leadership and Command: Loud, demanding, unshakeable. Martínez organizes with authority, inspires belief, and makes defenses braver just by standing behind them.
Achievements
Final Words
Dibu doesn’t just save goals. He saves stories. And his is still being written.
