Argentinian goalkeeper Emiliano 'Dibu' Martínez saved two penalty kicks to send La Albiceleste to the Copa America Semi-Finals.

‘Dibu’ Martínez’s hero status grows after more penalty shootout heroics

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HOUSTON – In three short years as a senior national team player, Argentinian goalkeeper Emiliano ‘Dibu‘ Martínez has already achieved a legendary national hero status for Argentina.

The legend grew larger Thursday night in Argentina’s Copa American quarterfinal match against Ecuador, where the 6’5 goalkeeper saved two penalties to send La Albiceleste to the Copa America Semi-Finals.

“I am proud, happy for all this. I told the guys I wasn’t ready to go home,” said Martinez after the game. “Even though we are World Cup and Copa American Champions, this group deserved to continue.”

That a goalkeeper has reached that level of status in Argentina, a country that has produced arguably two of the greatest soccer players ever to touch a soccer ball, is a testament to Martinez.

Penalty shootout heroics

Dibu is a shot stopper in the run of play, but his specialty over the past three years has been saving penalties in major tournaments.

The penalty-stopping prowess was there in the 2021 Copa America Semi Final against Colombia. It was on display twice in the 2022 World Cup, in the quarterfinals against Netherlands and the Final against France, and on Thursday night, in the 2024 Copa America quarterfinal against Ecuador.

Penalty shootouts tend to be pressure situations, but for Dibu, it’s just another day in the office. Of the 24 penalty shots he’s faced, the Aston Villa ‘keeper has saved nine, with three being off target, for an astounding 50 percent success rate.

“Dibu is always there, in these moments. He likes these moments. He becomes great. It is complicated [for opponents], he is very fast. He had a lot faith, even before the match he joked that we should be calm if there were penalties,” said Lionel Messi. “He always has it in his mind. It is fortunate that when we get to this point [a penalty shootout] we have an advantage.”

Martínez’s stellar goalkeeping has garnered him the 2021 Copa América’s Golden Glove, the 2022 World Cup Golden Glove, and 2022’s Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper.

Argentinian head coach Lionel Scaloni had nothing but praise for his goalkeeper. [Jesus Acevedo Jr. | The Bayoucitian]
“I am not a goalkeeping coach, but when a goalkeeper attempts to make a penalty save they may touch the ball but Dibu attacks them. He makes noises when he stops them,” said Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni in the post game conference. “Better that he’s Argentine.”

More than a game

Dibu has enamored himself to Argentina in three short years, and the goalkeeper doesn’t plan on stopping.

“I dive 500 times a day in every training session to be able to perform,” Martínez told TyC Sports after the game. “I work for this, I always try to be at my best level to give everything for this national team.”

The goalkeeping heroics will be talked about ad nauseam from fans and media, and rightly so, but Martínez is human. He understands the ups and downs and the emotional toll of being a goalkeeper.

After the match, while his team continued celebrating the win, Dibu left the on-field celebrations and walked over to console Ecuadorian goalkeeper Alexander Domínguez, who failed to save Argentina’s winning penalty kick.

“I’m proud,” said Martínez when asked about his emotion after the game. “I just want to continue growing as a goalkeeper and as a person.”