Thousands pay tribute to Argentina 'Dibu' Martinez
More than 100,000 people cheered in the coastal town of Mar del Plata for Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martinez, goalkeeper of the Argentine team that was proclaimed World Cup champion in Qatar.
The Aston Villa goalkeeper, a native of one of the most touristy places on the Argentine coast, received a tribute in front of a multitude of people, like those who flocked to witness each Albiceleste match in the Qatari event.
"When I saved the first penalty (against France), I knew the other guy was going to be nervous, he threw it wide," Martinez said. He screwed up everything.
Martínez, who came with the award for Best Goalkeeper of the tournament and the champion’s medal, said the captain, Lionel Messi, “is the best player on the planet” and his dream, like that of the rest of the team, was “to give Leo a title in the national team”.
After the victories in the Copa América (2021) and in the Finalissima (2022), “my final dream as a goalkeeper was to give the best in the world the world title so that there is no doubt that he is the best player in all of history”, confessed.
Martínez remembered his origins on the dirt court in the Jardín neighbourhood of Mar del Plata, and expressed his “pride” for having become a world champion with Argentina.
Every game we played we said we were playing for the people. We are not going for money for the selection but because of the colours.
