Emiliano "Dibu" Martinez
The most theatrical goalkeeper in world football. Emiliano Martinez combines shot-stopping brilliance with a psychological warfare approach to penalty shootouts that has made him Argentina's most celebrated keeper. At Aston Villa, he anchors a team with genuine top-four ambitions under Unai Emery.
From Arsenal Reserve to World Champion
Emiliano Martinez's story is one of the great late-bloomer narratives in modern football. Signed by Arsenal as a teenager from Independiente, he spent a decade as a backup — loaned out to clubs across the Championship and League One while Petr Cech and then Bernd Leno stood in his way. The chance finally came in 2020 when Arsenal's first-choice keeper was injured, and Martinez seized it with such authority that the club sold Leno rather than let Martinez leave again.
Aston Villa paid £20 million for him in August 2020 — a fee that looks like daylight robbery in retrospect. Since then, Martinez has won the Copa America with Argentina (2021), the FIFA World Cup (2022), and the Yashin Trophy for the world's best goalkeeper (2023). He has transformed from unknown backup into a genuine icon of the sport.
The 2025-26 season continues his career peak. At 33, Martinez shows no signs of decline — if anything, his reading of the game and positional sense have improved with experience. His role in Aston Villa's top-four challenge makes him one of the most important players in the Premier League.
Key Strengths
Penalty Saves
Martinez's penalty record is extraordinary. His psychological approach — staring down penalty takers, moving along the goal line, using his imposing 6'4" frame to maximum effect — has turned him into one of the most feared keepers in shoot-out situations. His saves in the 2022 World Cup Final and semi-finals were central to Argentina's triumph.
Shot-Stopping Reflexes
Beyond the theatrics, Martinez is a technically outstanding goalkeeper. His quick reflexes and ability to make himself big at point-blank range have produced some of the Premier League's most spectacular saves. His work rate in training and physical condition at 33 reflects genuine professionalism beneath the showman exterior.
Mental Fortitude
Perhaps Martinez's most underrated quality is his mental resilience and ability to communicate within the defensive unit. Aston Villa's back line functions as a cohesive structure partly because Martinez organises them with vocal authority. The same competitive edge that makes him controversial also makes him one of the most driven players in world football.
Latest News
'He does everything he can to get that extra two or three per cent': Insiders reveal how Emiliano Martinez became the penalty shootout king - and the subtle tricks he'll use if Aston Villa's Europa League final goes the distance
Emiliano Martinez reveals how Argentina success can inspire Aston Villa to end 30-year trophy drought in Europa League final
Freiburg vs Aston Villa - Europa League final LIVE: Latest score, team news and updates as Emiliano Martinez suffers injury scare in the warm-up as Villans chase first silverware in 30 years with Istanbul showpiece