There was no surprise and Argentina complied with the cabal: as before every final in the ‘Scaloni era’, it was ‘Dibu’ Martínez who appeared before the media. A story that started with the Copa América and that now, in New York, is repeated in the run-up to the grand final of the 2026 World Cup. The Aston Villa goalkeeper starred in an emotional press conference in which he spoke about his legacy, overcoming his injury or being less of a protagonist in this World Cup.
History of improvement. “First you have to win, I only focus on that. I don’t think beyond that. The improvement is the responsibility of the entire team, for years we have been building something that is difficult to describe in words. Sometimes I cry just thinking about what we have achieved. We just have to enjoy the moment. As a professional footballer you don’t realize where you are. You have to enjoy the moment, it will be remembered for a lifetime.”
As a professional footballer, you don’t realize where you are standing.
Play another World Cup final. “The truth is, I feel very calm. If you see me in the qualifiers… in the end many people think that the goalkeeper saves well just by stopping. But there is much more: coming out in a cross, being calm when the ball comes back… these are football aspects that show my teammates that ‘Dibu’ is calm. I have to give them security from behind, they are very good and that way they focus only forward. Trying to help them when they need me most is my job. Thank God, we are in this World Cup scoring three goals per game.”
Physical state. “My hand still hurts, every day. I avoided the operation, I knew it was going to hurt a lot… all the specialists I consulted told me that I had to have surgery or I wouldn’t be able to play. Throughout the group stage I couldn’t train with the group and it affected me because it’s something I love. Afterwards, since Egypt, I trained normally and I feel much better.”
My hand still hurts, every day. I avoided the operation, I knew it was going to hurt a lot…
Be the idol of the boys. “It is immense to see so many children wanting to be goalkeepers. I always tell parents that their children be forwards before goalkeepers. That position is very difficult. I tell them to work, that I hope they see me as an example of sacrifice and improvement.”
The ‘Dibu’ fantasizes what it would have been like. “I would have cried just as I was in the goal. I cried when I was little; I remember when Lehmann saved the second penalty… I cried at home. I was always a fan of the national team. When I went to England, I always had it in my head to be Argentina’s goalkeeper. I was in the youth team and when I reached the senior team, it was not something new for me.”
I was always a fan of the national team
Legacy of this group. “I don’t know how to remember us… it’s how we identify with people. Being Argentine, speaking on the field, not outside. The boys who are in the National Team come from low families, from people whose two parents work, hard workers… we have a unity in the group, we grew year by year and I want them to remember us like any Argentine. We are workers and even if things are difficult we move forward.”
