Emiliano 'Dibu' Martínez immortalized his name in the history books of football by becoming the champion of the 2022 World Cup with the Argentine national team. The Aston Villa goalkeeper will be remembered forever, not only for his good saves, but also for his ability to 'devour' the opponent during the most intense moments of a match.
But, have you ever wondered why they call him 'Dibu' Martínez? The goalkeeper, who had a complicated time at Arsenal, is a source of inspiration for many. If we talk about stories, we have to tell what happened to the Argentine goalkeeper.
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Argentina World Champion 2022: 'Dibu' Martínez, star of the final
'Dibu' was the savior of his team against France. He saved two penalties in the shootout and made a goal-saving stop in the dying minutes of the match. The goalkeeper of the Argentine team was the stronghold of his country throughout the final and the entire World Cup.
Emiliano Martínez during his time at Arsenal in England. Photo: Sky Sports
'Dibu' Martínez: how was this nickname born for Emiliano Martínez?
As Martínez himself explained, the origin of his nickname is related to "My family is a drawing", a television program that premiered in 1996 in Argentina.
In that series, there was a character named 'Dibu', a boy who had several freckles on his face and red hair, just like Martínez, who was only four years old at the time.
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For this reason, when he arrived at the youth ranks of Independiente de Avellaneda, his teammates gave him the nickname 'Dibu'. His great physical resemblance to the fictional character earned him a peculiar nickname, which he still carries to this day.
'My family is a drawing' is a program that aired during the 90s on Telefe, Argentina. Photo: Telefe
Emiliano Martínez: why is it said that Arsenal hindered 'Dibu' Martínez's career?
Martínez had the misfortunate of being a perennial substitute at Arsenal. During the almost 11 seasons he was at the club, he tried to earn the position of first goalkeeper. However, destiny did not want it that way. The goalkeeper simply couldn't impress his coach, Arsene Wenger.
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'Dibu' spent a lot of time without playing. And he was always overlooked by the club, to the point that he was loaned to lower-tier teams like Reading and Oxford United. They even sent him to another country: he signed for Getafe in Spain.
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However, there was a light at the end of the tunnel. In the 2020-2021 season, Aston Villa decided to give him a chance. And so life took a 180-degree turn for him: he became a undisputed starter at one of the most important clubs in the Premier League.
'Dibu's good level earned him a call-up from Lionel Scaloni to play in the 2021 Copa America, where he excelled. The goalkeeper had a beastly performance with the national team during the tournament.
And since then, he has never relinquished the position of first choice goalkeeper, neither at Villa nor with the Albiceleste.
'Dibu' Martínez at Reading in England. Photo: Football League World