Draw Martínez and another undefeated goal to expand his top-of-the-range history with the National Team

On June 3, 2021, at the Único Madre de Ciudades Stadium in Santiago del Estero, little was said about the goalkeeper who was making his debut in the Argentine National Team, in an apathetic 1 to 1 with Chile. But 34 days later, Emiliano Back Martínez He was already a national hero with his saves against Colombia to put the Combined in the final of the Copa América in Brazil. Precisely, against the rival against whom the legend began to be born and although this time he did not need his saves, he won his fourth title, that of two-time champion of the continent, after a very tough match against Colombia that was defined in extra time with a goal from Lautaro, another Martínez.

His adventure began with Martín Tocalli, the same one he mentions every time he stands out in a series of penalties, like the one in the quarterfinals against Ecuador. Scaloni’s goalkeeping coach, son of Hugo Tocalli, had very good references from Dibu’s time in the youth teams since he was 15 years old, including the South American and U-17 World Cup tournaments in 2019.

That year, precisely, he earned his first call to the Major. He was a substitute in the October friendlies against Germany and Ecuador. After that, a few months later the pandemic began, the National Team’s activity slowed down and he began to have continuity in England, moving from Arsenal to Aston Villa. Then, the call for the June 2021 Qualifiers arrived, which was the basis of the 2021 Copa América delegation.

Mané Garrincha’s “look how I eat you” still echoes in the National Stadium of Brasilia. On July 7, 2021, Dibu Martínez did his first dance, delivering his first great performance in the National Team. “Look, I’m eating you, brother, look, I’m covering it up for you; I’m eating you, I’m eating you,” the goalkeeper told Yerry Mina before stopping his penalty, after 1-1 in the 90 minutes. On an empty field due to the coronavirus, he doubled down in front of Miguel Borja: “You’re screwed. You like to wait, you bastard, you were talking at halftime. You like to watch, look at me, look at me.” With his saves against Davinson Sánchez, Yerry Mina and Edwin Cardona, Argentina won 3-2 and reached the final, where they beat Brazil at the Maracaná to end a 28-year drought.

“There are no words to explain this moment. It was a dream I had since I was a child. I went to Arsenal when I was 16 or 17 in search of a dream to give a better life to my family. After many years of effort, courage and in my head I knew it was going to happen. We had a Maracanazo in Brazil with everything against us. My stomach hurts, everything hurts me still,” the man from Mar del Plata said in Rio de Janeiro after being chosen by Conmebol as the winner. best goalkeeper of the tournament, after also shining in the definition with saves from Richarlison and Gabriel Barbosa.

In addition to his “Look how I eat you”another phrase was immortalized during that historic Copa América: “I still haven’t been able to hug my daughter, which is what I want to do most in the world. She was born a week ago and I don’t know her,” he had said about Avathe younger sister of Santitheir children with Mandinha.

His next title was Very final, on June 1, 2022. There were no dances or penalties for saving because Argentina danced to Italy to extend its undefeated record to 32 games. “It was something incredible to become champion at the Maracaná and now at Wembley. It’s a dream that I still don’t know if I’m going to wake up,” he said after that 3-0 goal from Lautaro Martínez, Ángel Di María and Paulo Dybala.

The dream turned into a nightmare on November 22. “I couldn’t believe that that happened to me in my first World Cup debut, they came at me twice and they scored two goals,” he acknowledged after the 2-1 with which Saudi Arabia took the Scaloneta’s undefeated record in 36 games and caused their only defeat in Qatar.

But he was going to have revenge with memorable performances: a memorable save against Australia in the round of 16, two saved penalties against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals and his unforgettable response with his left foot to Kolo Muani’s shot in the final against France, which avoided a 4-3 draw. and allowed the definition by penalties, where their little dance made everyone celebrate.

Consecrated as an idol of Argentines, He was recognized as the best goalkeeper in the worldboth at FIFA’s The Best awards and at the Ballon d’Or gala in 2023. His role was so prominent that the International Board had to create the “Anti Drawing” law.

And in this Copa América he stood out from the beginning: in the debut with Canada, in the spicy match with Chile and in the quarterfinal duel with Ecuador, with two decisive saves in the first 15 minutes, a couple of deflected penalties in the shootout and a celebration dedicated to captain Messi, who had missed the first shot.

Colombia did not have good memories of him; In addition to that Copa América three years ago, Martínez was the goalkeeper in the coffee growers’ last defeat, on February 1, 2022, when Argentina won 1-0 with a goal from Lautaro Martínez. Since then he had accumulated 28 undefeated games until July 14.

After five minutes, he showed confidence with a save against Luis Díaz; At 12 he caught a header from Cuesta and at 32 it was his best intervention, with a flight from a mid-range shot by Lerma. In the second half, when Lionel Messi came out, he appeared to take down a center from a Colombian team that did not worry him, not even in the extra period, in which Argentina was superior to win their second Copa América in a row with a goal from Lautaro Martínez . Towards the end, he took over the ball in the rival’s last attempt. Thus he completed another great night: 33 undefeated goals in 45 games with the National Team. A animal that was also chosen as the best in its position in the competition..