2026 FIFA World Cup Countdown: The Emi Martinez Effect

44 Days to Go: THAT Emi Martínez Save and The Butterfly Effect That Made It Possible

Emi Martinez’s path from Arsenal back-up goalkeeper to World Cup winner and Argentina’s number one is an anomaly. In truth, it never would have happened if not for an injury to the then-Arsenal starter Bernd Leno.

That save to deny Randal Kolo Muani in the final seconds of extra time in the 2022 final is debatably one of the most clutch saves in the history of football, as it was one that took the game to penalties and, consequently, handed Argentina their first World Cup since 1986 and completed the trophy cabinet of the greatest player of all time.

However, though he is now a two-time Yashin Trophy winner, a serial European competitor and regarded as one of the best shot-stoppers in the world, Martinez’s route to the top was far from traditional – a CV full of loan deals to middling EFL clubs is the last thing you would expect to see for a World Cup winner.

Aston Villa's Argentinian goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez is again the 2024 Yashin Trophy winner! 🧤 pic.twitter.com/oZBSJtZCrd

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) October 28, 2024

Martinez’s story is one of the most bizarre and unexpected tales of success that the modern football world has to offer, and his path to the Jules Rimet trophy starts in the most inconspicuous way: with Brighton vs Arsenal.

Stroke(s) of Luck

Let’s take a trip back in time to June 2020 – the English football league season had just resumed amidst the cold, cruel clutches of COVID-19, and stadiums were empty as Premier League sides attempted to finish their season two months late.

At the time, Argentina had an immensely talented side – Lionel Messi, Nicolas Tagliafico, Nicolas Otamendi, and Lautaro Martinez – La Albiceleste had world-class options in every position except between the sticks.

Here, they had to suffer through the likes of Franco Armani, Claudio Marchesin, Juan Musso and Esteban Andrada, and it was obviously holding them back from competing on the major tournament stage, having crashed out to France in the quarters of the 2018 World Cup and conceding four in the process.

As such, they were constantly on the lookout for new goalkeeping talent, and by that time, Martinez had already been involved in a couple of national squads but had never managed to barge his way into the lineup. However, he was about to be helped tremendously by one Neal Maupay.

The striker, who was playing up front for the Seagulls at the time, barged into Leno in pursuit of the long ball, and upon landing, it quickly became apparent he had done some serious damage. to his right knee, and had to be substituted, though not before he had some choice words with the Frenchman.

What if Neal Maupay hadn't injured Bernd Leno? 🤔 https://t.co/G8NhCbvu7R pic.twitter.com/3xrTcZDxoj

— Just Bizarre Tactics (@JBTFooty) March 2, 2024

The barrel-chested Martinez came on in his place for just his 15th appearance for the Gunners, having only played a bit-part role in spells at Oxford United, Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham, Getafe, and Reading. However, this time, something was different – Martinez looked confident, assured, and sharp, as if he had been playing at the top level for years.

He kept three clean sheets in the next three games and had some outstanding performances littered with magnificent saves, the peak of which came in the FA Cup final against Chelsea, where the Argentine played like an absolute colossus to help the Gunners to their most recent piece of major silverware.

For the Argentina national team, the butterfly effect had just begun; it would take hold much sooner than anyone expected.

Gathering Speed

Despite his heroics in both Arsenal’s FA Cup triumph and their win over Liverpool in their Community Shield game against Liverpool the next season, Leno’s return meant that Arteta could not guarantee Martinez starting spot, and there were hints that he could even be relegated back to the role of backup.

This opened the door for Aston Villa, who, for a bargain £15.5 million, brought the now highly rated shot-stopper to Villa Park as their inarguable number one. Martinez quickly rewarded Villa for their risk, keeping 15 clean sheets and helping them to consolidate their spot in the top flight after just surviving relegation the previous campaign.

Argentina had begun to take notice, but it was complicated – Franco Armani was still the go-to keeper for Lionel Scaloni, and had he not gone down with a bout of COVID in the midst of the World Cup qualifiers in June of 2021, Martinez may have stayed on the bench despite his number-one-worthy form.

Once again, though, Armani’s illness fell in his favour, and grabbing his chance by the scruff of the neck, Martinez ensured that he was Argentina’s starting keeper for the Copa America that summer. Of course, Argentina went on to win it, in the process providing Martinez with his first taste of international success.

Emiliano Martinez saved 3 penalties last night to take Argentina to the Copa America final against Brazil. 🇦🇷💪 pic.twitter.com/JDRJWHwgOf

— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Footballtweet) July 7, 2021

After another stellar season at Villa, Martinez had cemented his spot as number one for both club and country, and with the Qatar World Cup around the corner, the 30-year-old had the opportunity to have a major role on the biggest stage for the first time.

World Cup Wonder

In truth, Martinez’s World Cup campaign leading up to the final had actually been quite poor. Though he had kept three clean sheets, this was largely thanks to a solid backline in front of him, and prior to kick-off in the final against France, he had made just five saves at the tournament, with three of them coming in the previous game against Coratia.

On top of that, he had conceded four goals, and some had started to point out that perhaps the Villa keeper had been correctly benched for much of his career for good reason.

However, despite conceding a further three goals at the feet of Kylian Mbappé in the final, ‘Dibu’ more than made up for his past indiscretions with a moment of football history that will likely be talked about forever.

20 seconds before extra time was brought to a close, with penalties next in line, a lobbed through ball saw Kolo-Muani with a clear path to goal. No defender, no compatriots to distract him, simply the Frenchman against Martinez.

With the ball bouncing, the striker struck the ball as sweetly as he possibly could on the half-volley, and much of the footballing world already had their faces in their hands – that is how much everyone wanted Messi to win his sought-after World Cup trophy.

Martinez, throwing himself forward and spreading his arms and legs as far and wide as biologically possible, had no care for his own well-being. He needed to stop the ball however he could or die trying.

🌎🏆 2026 FIFA World Cup Countdown

Day 56/100: The Emi Martinez Effect 🇦🇷

This save, up there with the best in World Cup history, was never meant to happen.

It took a Neal Maupay challenge and a subsequent Bernd Leno injury. It required Martinez to take his chance in the… pic.twitter.com/7xGwreOYOv

— Football Park (@FP_CentreCircle) April 29, 2026

The ball absolutely slammed into his left shin and ricocheted clear, and Argentina almost netted a last-gasp winner up the other end on the counter-attack, but it was Martinez’s save that stole the limelight in that moment, a save that preserved Argentina’s World Cup dreams that, in that moment, had been dangling by a thread.

His heroics persevered into the penalty shootout too – he saved France’s second penalty from Kingsley Coman, and when Gonzalo Montiel buried the decisive penalty in the bottom left corner, history was written.

Messi had won the only trophy that had eluded him in his career; Argentina had won the third World Cup in their history; and Emiliano Martínez had transformed from an unwanted backup goalkeeper to champion of the world.

He has only gone from strength to strength since – he has been a huge part of Aston Villa’s recent success, playing a major role in helping them qualify for Europe in consecutive seasons, while in the blue and white of Argentina, he has now made 59 international caps, despite being handed his debut less than five years ago.

In part, we have to give our thanks to Neal Maupay and Franco Armani, whose hands in giving Martinez his big breaks at both club and national levels cannot be ignored. Without them, we may never have got to witness Dibu perform his top-level mind games whenever his opponents earn a penalty, nor would his name be twice on the FIFA Men’s Best Goalkeeper award.

However, infinitely more credit must be given to Martinez himself. Many thrust into the circumstances he was would not have been able to handle the sudden scrutiny and pressure, and the majority would have failed spectacularly.

Not Martinez – he grabbed his unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity not once but twice, and never let go. His rise to the very top of the game was one of the most meteoric the professional football world has seen in recent years, and despite his ability to play the pantomime villain, that is why he is a fan favourite with so many.

🏆🌎 | Emiliano Martínez on the World Cup Final: “I would not have agreed to play football again if we had lost that final against France.”

[🎙️ via @SofiMMartinez] pic.twitter.com/5h1Nd0CnA4

— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) October 4, 2023

Whether you love him or hate, Emi Martinez’s journey to the top is nothing short of inspiring, and that save in the final that all but won Argentina the World Cup? Well, that’s the stuff legends are made of.