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The history of soccer has given us big names
focused on just one aim,
scoring goals.
But there are also those who try to save us, stop us, and not let us in.
For some strange reason,
it seems like everyone wants to be a goalkeeper now, right?
Why, huh?
Maybe it's because of one guy in particular.
So today I'm going to tell you all a story about a certain Emiliano Martínez.
Yeah, the guy who everyone calls Dibu.
The Best FIFA award for the best goalkeeper of the season
goes to Argentina's Emiliano Martínez.
People always ask me who my idols are
or which goalkeeper I admired when I was a kid, and I always say,
"Seeing my mom work as a cleaner for eight, nine hours,
my dad, working…"
"Honestly, they're my idols." Thanks, everybody.
He's a World Cup winner and the tournament's best goalkeeper.
Emiliano Martínez, the season's best goalkeeper.
THE BEST
At the Ballon d'Or ceremony, Dibu Martínez won the Yashin for world's best keeper.
Once again, Dibu Martínez won The Best award as the world's best goalkeeper.
It's what every kid dreams of from the age of six.
It was my goal, and I knew I was ready.
BASED ON A SHORT STORY BY HERNÁN CASCIARI
-You can't do it! -You're useless, like a sieve.
-Jerk! -You're useless, keeper!
I was never afraid of the ball. I'm very demanding of myself.
I saw another goalkeeper
and didn't understand why he wasn't getting a chance.
I always put up with everything.
I couldn't accept not playing. I was in a dark place.
There was a lot of sacrifice. It didn't happen overnight.
I was expecting him to say, "I've had enough, I want to come back."
He was a kid who came with the goal of making it big.
Emiliano's mentality makes him stand out.
That journey made him stronger.
Yes, the team has been chosen. Emiliano Martínez will play.
The level he's at is obvious. And he could get the opportunity to play.
Hello, stranger!
Having those two keepers, what will Martínez change?
They say he owes it all to the coach!
If you don't pay for cable, you don't know where this guy plays.
What's he gonna pull off at the net?
Until things clicked.
I'm not new to the Argentine national team.
I went to the U-20 and U-17 World Cups.
Hey, champ.
I decide if you become a hero or a villain.
I know I gave the national team a shot of positivity.
If I pick a side, I've got an 80% chance of saving it.
Sorry, I'm gonna eat you alive, bro.
Dibu is a real character.
He's totally crazy,
and if he told you that, it's because it's going to happen.
I think he's been a great addition for the group as a whole.
First, with his saves.
Then with his personality.
You're nervous, huh?
Whether I save it or not, I know the trust is there.
I knew the day my brother made the national team
he'd stay in goal.
Dibu is such a great character.
He made you feel like the opposition could shoot,
but they wouldn't score.
When he's in the goal, he gets bigger.
If he had to crash into the post to make a save, he would.
He has a sixth sense.
For me, he had something.
He knows the real reason.
He was born to be a goalkeeper.
DIBU MARTÍNEZ THE KID WHO STOPS TIME
A billion and a half TV viewers across the world are watching this match.
Just let me dream a little!
Who will be victorious?
Walking out to play the World Cup final,
I felt an emptiness in my stomach I'd never felt before as a professional.
When you see the giant World Cup
and the 60, 70,000 people in Lusail Stadium…
you start to feel the adrenaline of playing a World Cup final.
We believe in you guys.
We believe in this team. Come on, Argentina!
Seeing the people sing made me remember
my childhood in Argentina and my school's playground.
To the great Argentine people, salute
SAGRADA FAMILIA SCHOOL MAR DEL PLATA, 2001
There was Little Coco.
May the laurels be eternal…
And a little further along, Ale, my older brother.
That we knew how to win…
The teacher directing the kids.
…how to win
That's when I discovered the switch.
Let us live crowned with glory…
Huh? What's this?
Why do I have a switch on my belly button?
Oh, what's happening to me?
Hello?
Are you frozen?
This is so weird.
Miss! What's happening?
I don't get it!
Someone say something!
Coco! Coco, wake up!
Miss, Coco won't talk to me!
No way! Was it me?
What did I do?
Or swear to die gloriously! Or swear to die gloriously!
What was that?
I've been everywhere,
and Mar del Plata will always be my hometown.
Walking to the bus stop at 7:00 a.m. to go to school.
Walking from Punta Mogotes beach to the Jardín neighborhood,
which took 30 or 40 minutes.
Cycling to the soccer field with wooden goalposts and no nets.
My brother and I spent a lot of time together, just us.
The essence of family of those who raised us, Dad and Mom,
always taught us brotherhood.
We were inseparable.
We had a wire fence in front of the house.
I think it was about 50 feet long. And the ball went back and forth all day.
Competitions, penalties, chest saves, headers, rabonas, you name it.
We played those games every day, always with a ball.
Emi, get in goal.
But I want to play up front.
I score the goals, you stop them from going in, okay?
Fine.
Lucas the Tank,
Mosquito Brady,
Curly Loquercio,
Diego Garello,
Pata Suárez,
Ariel Armageddon.
Ariel takes the ball straight down the right.
Armageddon shoots, goal!
Emiliano was caught off guard. Curly approaches the penalty area.
Foul. That's a foul.
Over here, over here. No, better… There, great.
Toto Bertoglio.
That's a long, very high cross.
-A giant header! -No!
-No! No! -Coco tries to block it…
-It's an own goal! -No!
Little Coco.
Why?
Hey, little goalie, this is for grown-ups.
Why don't you go build some sandcastles?
-What a pass from Toto! -Oh no!
Armageddon is approaching at full speed.
Hey! What are you planning?
No, don't… What are you doing?
No, don't do that, huh?
I'm gonna eat you alive. I'm gonna eat you alive!
Incredible save from Emiliano Martínez!
Unbelievable, Emiliano! How many hands do you have?
We won! Let's go!
Unbelievable!
What did you do? You're a beast!
What you did was incredible. You're a star!
Those are your school pants.
Mom's gonna read us the riot act.
The Mostris are older than me. They were born in '89, '90.
We went to school, soccer, the beach together all day.
We started calling ourselves "Mostris," and it stuck.
Look, it's hard to explain the meaning of the Mostris.
In Argentina, especially in Mar del Plata,
as kids, we wanted to go by or have a name to identify us.
And in the end, I think Mostri stuck the most…
"Here comes the Mostri."
The Mostris is our little gang.
Emi, Toto, Diego, Ale, and me.
A friend's brother and other friends always called us "Mostris."
"Hey, Mostri."
For some reason, they started calling us "Mostri," and we stole it.
That word just stuck.
Actually, we have it tattooed in Arabic.
We totally trusted the translator at that time.
We thought it said "Mostri."
Then some time later in England, in a gym with my brother,
an Arab guy came over and said, "Mostri."
And we realized that our tattoo did indeed say "Mostri."
There wasn't much Internet at that time.
Don't ask me why it's in Arabic.
But anyway, we were young.
Maybe now we'd get "Mostri" in Spanish.
I don't know why in Arabic.
But there are five of us,
and we still call each other "Mostri."
In the neighborhood where Emi lived as a kid,
you could see the fields just five blocks away.
We always had tournaments with all the kids from the neighborhood.
And they'd spend all day with the ball. Mornings, afternoons.
At night, sometimes they played in the rain.
They always liked soccer.
The ball was always there, from a very, very young age.
Boys! Is that you?
Is something wrong?
Hi, boys. How was school today?
Hi, Dad! We played a game on the beach.
We lost 3-0, but Emi made an awesome save.
Emi, tell me all about it.
It was awesome, Dad! I blocked it like this with my leg and kicked it out.
Oh yeah? Try to block this one. Let's see if you can.
Emiliano, what happened to your pants?
Those are your school pants. What will you wear tomorrow?
It's just that…
I told you a thousand times not to play soccer in those pants!
Go take a shower, both of you!
Well, at least you didn't lose 4-0.
You saved one.
My dad spent a lot of time away.
He worked all day long in the fish trade. He was a hauler.
He had to go from fish market to fish market to fill up his truck.
We saw my mom at 6:00 or 7:00 p.m. when we came back from school.
He was my buddy. He was the one who…
"Mom, what are you doing?" "I'll do that for you."
At four or five years old,
he'd grab his blue bike and set off with the bag and money.
He was very supportive.
Look, Emi. What do you think?
Wow, Mom!
Now they're the world's best pants!
One day, I'll be a world champion,
and you won't have to work or sew ever again.
Of course, my little champ.
He was very clear he was going to leave because he always said to me,
"When I become a soccer player, because I will become a soccer player,
you won't have to work anymore."
Soccer was always my priority.
Even as a kid, I'd say no to going for ice cream and fishing,
and I'd go play for my team on Sunday mornings.
It was something I looked forward to all week.
When Emi was a kid,
I'd say to him from my room,
"Okay, go to sleep. You have to get up early tomorrow."
And it felt like he was talking to somebody.
I don't know if it was an imaginary friend or if he was talking to himself out loud.
Hello, champ.
Who… who are you?
I'm the one who decides who goes home happy
and who goes home sad and can't sleep.
I'm dreaming.
No, no. You're awake.
But you're talking, and balls don't talk.
Not just talk. I also do keepie-uppies, fly, and smash nets.
I love smashing nets.
I decide if you become a hero or a villain.
-You don't exist. -Look who's talking.
The one they stick in goal because he's the youngest.
Little kiddie.
What's wrong, champ? You scared of me?
Why would I be scared of you?
In my head, I always knew I would make it.
There was never a doubt in my mind to say,
"I'll work at the port if I don't make it."
Susana, the car, Alberto.
The red Jeep was my dad's first car.
And I remember it always had…
I mean, he always kept it clean, but there was always something broken.
Boys! Come on, sleepy heads! Let's go!
I'm coming!
Watch out for the built-in shower, boys. Real luxury, huh?
Come on, Dad. When are you gonna fix that hole?
It's to keep the fish wet for deliveries.
Our routine involved getting up early.
My wife worked,
and I had to take the kids to the port at 6:00 a.m.
If I had to go somewhere, I took them with me.
See you later, Dad.
Dad will come pick you up.
Bye, Dad, love you.
Behave, both of you. Come on.
We went to Sagrada Familia,
which is a very typical school of the Mar del Plata port.
Emiliano was a very sweet kid, a real chatterbox.
He was the tallest of his grade and had long legs.
He was always running around like crazy.
It was always, "Emi, you can't run, Emi."
He was really focused on sports, but he never neglected his schoolwork.
Seven times one?
Seven!
Seven times two?
Fourteen!
Seven times three?
Twenty-one!
Seven times four? 28.
Seven times five?
Lots of kids dream of being a superhero to help people.
Or of being a great explorer to find hidden treasures.
Yes!
No!
But I dreamed of being the best goalkeeper in the world.
The usual, huh?
Emi started playing at Urquiza kind of by chance
because they needed kids.
Ale played as a striker,
and the coach sometimes said, "Emi, do you want to play with the boys?"
Because Ale was born in 1990 and Emi in 1992.
He was young at Urquiza, about six or seven, I think.
We were missing a player. And he said, "No, I'm a keeper."
And we played with one man down because he insisted on being in goal.
Then the goalkeeper got sick and couldn't play one Sunday.
Emi came in, and we kept him in.
I'm not sure if I'd be so competitive if I didn't have an older brother.
Hello again, champ!
Hey! Why aren't you talking to me? Oh, right! The little boy is scared.
Hey! Look at me, little kid!
Look at me!
Yeah! Woo-hoo!
First of all, Emiliano was very big in terms of his physical build.
Also, he had a commanding voice that was unusual for his age.
We said that it was like having another coach on the pitch.
At some matches, the referee came over and said to us,
"You know, the other team's coach is asking to see his ID
because they can't believe his age."
He had impressive leg strength.
Sometimes he'd play with his teammates for a soda.
He'd fly from post to post and would always beat them.
Jorge Peta and Cacho Gonzalo trained us in the park to go play matches.
I remember they were demanding.
We set up goals with the kids' sweaters and backpacks.
We'd hang a ball from a tree,
and everyone who came would tug the rope to lift the ball and drop it.
We parents always lent a hand.
We'd paint the field, cut the grass, train the boys,
take them home. Otherwise, our Sundays would never end.
Well, it was a great time.
That's the goalkeeper who blocked every penalty kick.
Let's see, let's see.
HOW DOES HE MAKE SAVES?
Come on!
We were at Talleres for a very short time.
Then we went to San Isidro.
He was already the goalkeeper at San Isidro.
It was a good team, a very good team, Mar del Plata class of '92.
I was with them for a year or two
because they had some kind of connection to take us to Buenos Aires for trials.
-I don't know what we'll do. -The electricity bill was double.
We have the electricity, the kids' school, the gas bill. What do we do?
But the kids' school is non-negotiable. That's the priority.
I'm ready.
-Ready for what? -Ready to go to Buenos Aires.
Go to bed. It's too early for school.
I want to play for a big club.
It's a lot of money.
The journey, staying there.
Yeah, son. I really want you to live your dreams, but right now?
Sure, I get it. Don't worry.
I was always very careful with expenses. I lived paycheck to paycheck.
So I'd divide my salary
and set aside the money for the electricity, gas, school.
I worked at the port as a hauler, and you know what it's like.
Some days I'd have work, and others I didn't.
Sometimes I'd do extra hours cleaning apartments
for people who came during the summer.
There was a lot of sacrifice. It didn't happen overnight.
Always saving here and there, as long as there was food on the table.
They learned that Mom and Dad worked to have what we had,
a roof over our heads, to buy cleats,
gloves, to pay for school, to buy books.
We'll sort it somehow, won't we? We always sort it out.
Huh?
So are we going to Buenos Aires?
-Yeah, we're going to Buenos Aires! -Yeah, we're going!
Come on, kid. We're going!
BUENOS AIRES HIGHWAY 2
First we took him to River Plate,
but unfortunately, he didn't make it.
Then, well, we took him to Boca Juniors, but he didn't make it there either.
Cacho Gonzalo came and told us,
"There's a tryout at Independiente."
"Look, Pepé, I have this kid I'd like you to try out."
"We're from Mar del Plata, and we're heading your way."
He explained that they'd come to try their luck.
They'd done tryouts at River and Boca.
And he said, "Before we leave, we'd like you to see him."
I knew he was his idol from Independiente. I knew who he was.
"Okay, have him get changed and come over here."
CLUB ATLÉTICO INDEPENDIENTE AVELLANEDA, ARGENTINA
Come on, Emi, son! You can do it! Give it your all. Come on!
From the tryout at Independiente, I remember how many kids there were.
Of course, you think, "There's no way I'll make it."
Hey, Pepé's coming!
Okay, San Luis, you kick.
Out.
Next.
Out.
Next. Come on.
Next. No.
Oh God! Next!
Your turn, kid. Get in goal.
I met Emi at a tournament I went to with Independiente,
and he was with San Isidro.
San Isidro had a very good team in Mar del Plata. They drew 1-1.
And I scored a goal against him.
We were at the tryout, and it was going well, very well.
There was just one thing left.
What now?
The missile.
He asked for the missile.
What's the missile?
The final test.
Nobody blocks the missile.
Never ever!
What? Hey!
You weren't expecting that, huh?
Huh? What?
No!
No! Huh?
Oh! You thought it was easy, huh?
No matter how many switches you flip, you'll never make it.
I'm going in the goal, and you'll be out of the tryouts.
The dream of your life is over.
That's not gonna happen!
Yes!
No.
If the kid has his things, he can stay. He'll go to the dorms.
He said I could stay in the dorms.
It was a complete shock and total elation at the same time.
I saw his physical condition,
and with hard work and technique, we could make him a great goalkeeper.
And that was that. We went back.
We discussed it as a family.
It was really hard for me to let him go, but I knew it was what he wanted.
I think I have to thank my mom for that
because she's the one who let me go to Independiente.
WELCOME C.A.I.
All the rooms are along those hallways.
There's a lot of us.
Bathrooms and showers are over there.
Tip, come early, or you'll wait half an hour.
If not, forget it.
I'm Ale, but here everybody calls me San Luis because,
well, I'm from San Luis.
You know, I'm from Mar del Plata, but I prefer to go by Emi.
Sure, Emi.
But I recognize you from somewhere.
Okay, let's go.
I went to the dorms. I stayed there with my bag,
and my life in the dorms began.
There was an emptiness at home when he went to Independiente.
That's how I felt, you know?
And I think the one who suffered most from Emi leaving was Ale, but in silence.
He really struggled.
In time, I understood he wasn't there anymore.
I was happy and sad at the same time because yeah, I was left alone.
He was 11 and a half, and he never lived with us again.
There were four of us, then we became three. He left.
Sorry.
As I grew up, I realized that sometimes we can be selfish
because I would think, "I'm going to make it for them,"
but I never put myself in their shoes.
That I left home, that I left my brother alone,
my dad without one of his kids, you know?
And that's something that I came to terms with as I got older.
That's when it hit me, "Okay, now I'm at a professional club,
and my career starts here." You know?
It was difficult to come to terms with at that time.
I took him there the first time,
and it was so hard to give him his bag and leave him there.
And honestly, it was a very modest place at that time.
We had a room with two bunk beds, and it was very narrow.
And I would think,
"Why does he need to be here?"
I remember my mom would come and couldn't stand to see the place.
She'd clean all the bathrooms.
This is your bed.
I'm here, in the one next to you.
Can you tell me where you learned to block like that?
No one has ever blocked my missile.
What's your secret?
My secret?
Yeah, your secret.
No, I don't have one.
Oh, I know.
You know? What do you know?
I know where I know you from.
You look just like Dibu.
The one from TV.
"Dibu."
Dibu Martínez came from Ale, my best friend.
They were talking about how I looked like Dibu, you know.
Of course, they started teasing me and calling me Dibu, like the cartoon.
When he arrived, he was kind of red-headed with freckles, you know.
"Look, Emi," I said. "You look just like Dibu."
I remember watching the show. He was an awesome dude.
He was a keeper. He drove go-karts.
I said, "Yeah, call me Dibu. He can do everything."
And it stuck. "Dibu."
And from then on, that's how everybody knows him today.
I told you we'd win with the Five of Cups, huh?
Real envido.
I accept. Thirty-three!
Come on! We won!
Over there, we watch soccer.
Barcelona is still winning 1-0. Messi is already on the pitch.
Ronaldinho has the ball.
Watch this perfect assist for Messi. And now, over the top…
Goal for Barcelona!
Barcelona! Messi! Yes! Messi!
By the rising star.
This is a historic day.
Remember the name Lionel Messi.
One day, I'm going to play with him.
Come on, Dibu.
Mom would make up any excuse for him to come home.
If he got a mediocre grade, he had to come back.
So Emi would make an effort to please Mom.
My mom always kept my brother and me on a very short leash.
I would speak to him before and after school.
She was always very demanding.
She wouldn't let us play soccer unless we ate well and got good grades.
At 8:00 p.m., I would suddenly call him on the payphone.
And he had to pick up from the dorm's payphone.
A day never went by when he didn't answer me.
We did physical and technical training.
There were exercises all the boys did easily,
but he couldn't do them.
There was a hurdle like this
that all the first-team goalkeepers could jump over,
but I couldn't.
You don't have the same strength at 12 that you do at 28.
I tried to jump the hurdle, crying and crying, until I made it.
He was desperate to do what the others did.
He was a kid who came with the goal of making it big.
Honestly, he never lost heart.
I was expecting him to say, "I've had enough. I want to come back."
You become a father figure,
especially to the kids coming from the dorms.
Obviously, Pepé Santoro wasn't just a goalkeeping coach.
He was like the father I didn't have in Buenos Aires.
He saw how difficult it was for me, how hard I tried.
He started from the bottom
and really listened to all the advice we gave him.
He must've prepared him very well
because he was called up to U-15 when he was 14.
ARGENTINE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
The national team has scouts who watch you every weekend.
I was doing really well on the Independiente youth team.
I remember they gave you a scorecard every weekend.
I was always Martínez the Marvel. I got a high score every weekend.
It was beautiful,
because you think primarily about playing every match for your club,
and then getting a call to train with the national team
is something unique.
Together, nobody can stop us, Mostri!
I remember calling my mom walking from the dorms to the locker room.
And he said, "Mom, I have to tell you. I got called up for the national team."
That's when I really said, "I'm going to become a professional."
I always thought I'd become a professional,
but that's when I thought, "I'm close."
Thankfully, we got to enjoy that together too.
You never forget those things.
As soon as I turned 16, I was called up to U-17.
I went there on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays
basically every month.
Argentina's prospects face a new challenge.
The South American U-17 Championship begins for Argentina.
Martínez!
Great save from Independiente's goalkeeper!
They call him Dibu, and he's a safe pair of hands in goal.
Argentina's great prospect shines in the South American Championship.
Emiliano Martínez saves the match!
Argentina and Brazil face off in the South American U-17 championship.
Incredible, Martínez! It's Martínez again!
Great performance from Emiliano Martínez!
He had a very good tournament in Chile,
and that's when the people from Arsenal came to see us.
One of their scouts.
Dibu, someone's here to see you.
Richard Law, Arsenal scout.
Arsenal? From Sarandí?
No!
When he came out and said,
"Hey, I might have to go to England for a week for a tryout,"
we were stunned.
That's when we said, "Wow, this is real."
"This could be real. Are you sure you want to do this?"
Mar del Plata is 250 miles away,
but it's too far.
I won't see my family for a long time.
This is your chance to change your life, Emi.
And your family's life.
Isn't that why you came here?
My dream was…
I don't know.
It was always to have a big house for my parents
or a car for my dad.
Okay, but let's go together.
So we both went with our luggage. With our hopes, our expectations.
LONDON ENGLAND
You'll soon find out who I am.
You won't beat us!
You're useless, like a sieve!
-No presence in the box! -You suck at penalties!
-Jerk! -Come on, little kid!
-We'll eat you alive! -You're useless, keeper!
No!
You did well,
but you're going to have to try much, much harder.
And the coach came congratulating me
and said the boy was staying at the club.
The Arsenal scout was there, and the president of Independiente.
It was like, "Look, we have to sell you to finish the stadium."
Financially, things were tough at home.
You know that moment when you're like, "Oh damn"?
Well, that time came.
And the offer from Arsenal was like a godsend.
I think they gave me 20 or 25,000 pounds for signing.
"If I sign, you give me the money now?"
It was to cover all the expenses.
Not having to sell the van or the house.
It wasn't my plan,
but it was good for me financially.
It was kind of a bummer because we were separated in that sense,
but on a soccer and a personal level,
it was something he had to make the most of.
They placed me with an English host family so I could learn the language.
The culture was very different.
And I wasn't into partying or anything.
They were very strict in the dorms. We couldn't do anything.
But I played PlayStation,
I'd go to the bathroom downstairs at 10:00 p.m., and they'd shush you.
And it was 9:30 p.m. You know?
So I said, "No, I'm not under arrest here."
"I'm going back to Argentina," I said, and grabbed my bag.
"No, wait."
And my brother and I went to a hotel for six months.
He'd go practice, and I stayed at the hotel.
We were both in the best shape of our lives.
We worked out in the morning, afternoon, and evening.
We did nothing else.
We got majorly ripped.
His brother was his companion, his friend, everything.
He was everything to him.
Until I rented an apartment when I was 18.
I came here to England to be financially stable.
For the first time in my life.
It was like a spaceship, gray, huge, perfect.
It was scary. The bench was scary.
Even the cold seemed different.
He was just unfortunate to always have international stars in front of him.
He told me where he'd go, what he had to put up with,
like a relegation or fighting relegation.
Arsenal kept loaning him out.
That's pretty difficult for a soccer player.
Over time, he wanted to be the national team's goalkeeper,
and he didn't get the chance because he wasn't playing.
In soccer, it feels like they're messing with you.
But he was building what he needed,
the strength for when his chance came.
I saw my brother train, and he was a beast.
I didn't understand why he wasn't getting a chance.
Are you tired, Emi?
What did you think?
You think a few "good morning" and "good afternoon" are all it takes?
No! You've got a lot of work to do!
I don't think you'll make it.
This is difficult stuff!
The days were long, gray.
It rained all the time.
On top of that, I was never playing.
I was always on the bench or being sent out on loan.
I thought, "Why not give me a chance if I'm training well?"
Competing, training, being alone, traveling.
I put up with everything.
I couldn't accept not playing.
I think he got stronger over time, mentally and soccer-wise, no question,
because he never stopped training. He was always a beast in that sense.
The key thing is he believed in himself.
Trusting in your strengths, your ability.
Working on the flaws that we all have.
That was largely thanks to the help of a psychologist.
Honestly, it was just right for me.
It's something that I'd never considered.
And I wasn't afraid to say, "Look, I need this."
Well, until Mandinha came along.
Being alone there, he'd go eat at a restaurant.
We'd go there often. The food was good.
They spoke Spanish. I didn't speak English.
It turns out the restaurant was owned by Mandinha's family.
The restaurant was called Nelitos in the north of London.
That's where I bought an apartment,
and Emi lived on the same street.
How's that possible? I didn't do anything. I didn't touch the switch.
Excuse me, do you know the girl in the photo?
Of course, that's Mandinha, the owner's daughter.
Sure, she was the owner's daughter, and we didn't do anything.
I remember I saw her every day for a week in downtown Enfield.
I'd go to a café, he was there.
I'd pass by the restaurant, he was there.
He was always there that week.
I don't know why, but I think it was destiny.
And I saw him so many times that I told his friend,
"Look, I've seen Emi several times,
but every time he sees me, he looks down. He doesn't look at me."
And he knew me. He'd known me for years.
And one time, she said, "I ran into you every day, but you didn't say hi."
I know he was Argentine.
I thought, "South Americans are usually very friendly."
And then I got a message from Emi saying,
"Look, I'm not rude. I'm just shy."
That's how it started.
Sorry. Excuse me.
I wanted to ask if… if you'd like to go for a coffee someday.
Yes, I'd love to.
And then we started dating.
Then he told us, "Hey, I'm dating a girl."
"She's from here, from London."
"Her parents have Latin blood."
"Her mother is Brazilian, and her dad is Portuguese."
To be honest,
I have no idea how we communicated because he didn't speak English.
She helped me speak perfect English.
Mandinha was obviously a great support for me in England.
She was like a friend.
I don't think I would have put up with or gotten to where I am here in England
if it hadn't been for her.
When you're away from home and your family, alone, with problems,
it always affects your game.
You can do it, Emi!
When I met Emi, he was at Arsenal, but he wasn't playing.
There were times when he lost his love for soccer.
Listen up. You know what they call you?
A long-term project.
Hey! The starting goalkeeper is much better than you!
And he doesn't have a switch!
"I'll go back to Independiente. I'm not going to make it."
It was the lowest point of my professional career.
We went through some very difficult years.
Well, he did, with soccer.
And she was always a great help to me.
When I was down, she'd say, "No, no," or when I was too upbeat, "No, no."
There were moments in life when Emi was sad, he didn't want to play,
and I'd say, "It's your job. You have to play."
She's a very down-to-earth girl from a great family.
For me, as an elite soccer player,
I think partners are a big part of our success
because it's ultimately about teamwork.
Ready for dinner with my parents?
Don't tell me you're feeling shy again.
No, I just need to tell you something first.
Now? Don't scare me.
I need you to know something about me. I don't really know how to say it.
It helped me become a good goalkeeper and get this far,
but I haven't known how to use it lately.
Emi, the superpower
that lets you know what's going to happen a second before it does,
what makes you great,
is here and here. Okay?
There is no switch, Emi.
It's you. It's always been you.
It's always been me.
Look who's back, the long-term project.
Lucky in love but unlucky on the field?
"I'm so in love."
Hey, you. Stop it!
Stop! They're asleep downstairs! Stop!
Tomorrow, my story will change, and so will yours.
No!
Being a goalkeeper is very unforgiving, and you have to wait for opportunities.
It's different from a striker
who can come on for three minutes and score a rebound.
"What a great striker." Being a goalkeeper is very different.
You have to wait for injuries or play very well.
I was doing very well in training.
It was the only window of opportunity I had.
People who reach a certain level on a global scale
have something different.
What's different about him is he reads the person in front of him,
the personality that's going to shoot at him.
He has a sixth sense.
For me, when he's in goal, he gets bigger,
like he turns into a superhero.
It's like something clicked in his head, and he just never stopped.
Competition gave me more than talent, to be honest.
I was always talented at soccer, you know.
My dad said I had a magic wand.
Emi always had a magic wand that lit him up.
He always had a trick up his sleeve, a block, a stop.
There are thousands of talented people, but few make sacrifices.
He was always like that.
I guess, over the years, therapy has helped him
with the uprooting and the distance because it's not easy.
I think Santi changed everything.
When Santi was born, I promised that would be the last time I was loaned.
It was something that really drove me. I've always been very goal-oriented.
And my goal was I couldn't keep moving from home to home on loan.
My nephew was born, and the World Cup was in July.
We qualified for the round of 16 and I said, as a fan of the national team,
"I want to go see the World Cup."
And I said to him, "Let's go."
We went because I wasn't playing much.
And we went to Russia, just the two of us, side by side.
And we brought bad luck. We lost the match. We were devastated.
Argentina has once again been eliminated from the World Cup.
There's always next time.
I saw another goalkeeper and didn't know why my brother wasn't there.
I knew that Emi had all the qualities.
And his mentality was that he had to be there.
I'll be in goal for the next World Cup for sure.
That was my focus for the next four years,
to be the first-team goalkeeper at the Qatar World Cup.
In the club locker room,
he always keeps a piece of paper saying what he wants to achieve that season.
And he always does it.
Always.
WEMBLEY STADIUM FA CUP FINAL - ARSENAL VS. CHELSEA
For the first time, he'd managed to win a trophy at Wembley,
which is the most iconic stadium in England.
It was a weight off his shoulders. He was very close to the national team.
It was a bonus to exert pressure so to speak, right?
On the national team,
they saw there was a goalkeeper who was very fast, very well-positioned.
But there was a legend like Armani in place.
How could you drop Armani? It was impossible.
It's like coming in after Messi. How do you drop Messi?
The goalkeeping coach Martín Tocalli knew him from having worked with him.
He was always aware of his personality.
He just needed to play regularly for his clubs
and believe in himself.
Is he a one-off? Yes.
Emiliano's mentality makes him stand out.
That journey made him stronger.
Franco and Gonzalo can't travel
because their PCR tests are still positive.
Emiliano Martínez will play.
Emiliano's level is clear,
and he could get the opportunity to play.
When Scaloni
called up Emi
and said he was going to be the goalkeeper for the Argentine national team,
I was home alone, and
I went to the park with a flask.
And I remembered everything he had done as a kid.
Why did Scaloni choose this guy?
Are we going to win the Copa América with an unknown goalkeeper?
It's very weird.
"Without TV, you don't know where he plays."
"Dude, you don't follow soccer."
I find it hard to believe that a journalist doesn't research
the person who they're going to discuss.
Hey!
Don't look away! I'm talking to you!
You're still a long-term project!
Even if you don't use the switch anymore!
I'm not new to the Argentine national team.
But I was new to the fans and the spectators.
But for me, joining and playing on the national team
was like going to the AFA training ground when I was 14.
When Emi started playing for Argentina,
he had three numbers.
He was number 26 for his whole career.
He said, "Oh, there's no 26."
He was so sad.
I said, "But what other numbers are there?"
He said there was 13 and another one, I don't know.
And he said there was 23.
I said, "Emi, Santi was born on the 23rd."
"That's right! I have to go!" And he hung up and went to claim 23.
But it was obvious it would be 23, of course.
The Copa América is underway!
Argentina looks to reach another final!
Twenty-eight years! Will they finally win?
A lifetime of work came down to five or six matches.
Chile advances. Goal threat… Martínez is there! Martínez!
Great personality. Scaloni's pick for keeper is justified.
He went to the Copa América the year I was pregnant.
My wife was pregnant.
I wanted to be there the day our daughter was born.
I didn't want to watch any matches at all.
I was so, so upset that he wasn't there.
Because of the virus, "Look, I can't go."
When he said he couldn't come, that it was impossible,
that's when I thought,
"That's how it is. I'm going to be happy, and that's that."
My daughter was born two days before the Ecuador match.
My dad and brother said to me, "She's a lucky charm."
He watched the birth on a tablet.
That's how he saw Ava.
It was really hard not being there at that moment, being so far away.
I said, "You have to win."
"If you don't, this was in vain, you understand?"
Two days later, I played a match,
and I was like, "No way you're getting past me."
So he developed as a player, improved a lot,
made it onto the national team, and everything was going really well.
And against Colombia, well…
Penalties between Argentina and Colombia to decide who makes the final.
In penalty shootouts,
with my height and leg strength,
I thought, "If I pick the right side, there's an 80% chance I'll save it."
It's not 50-50. If I pick the right side, there's an 80% chance I'll save it.
The penalty shootout is tied 1-1.
Sánchez! It's Dibu, Dibu Martínez! Martínez! Martínez!
You see, he doesn't tease everyone the same way.
He treats some players seriously, as he should,
and with others, he teases them a little to make them lose some confidence.
-You laugh, but you're nervous. -Yeah.
-The ball's in front. -It's on the mark.
Yeah, play dumb. I know you.
At that moment, imagine there are no fans,
but it still adds extra pressure for the penalty taker.
Everything is quiet. Someone's talking to you.
Even as you step up to take the kick, he's still talking to you.
Relax, I'll save it. I'm gonna eat you alive, bro.
Martínez saves! Dibu again! Dibu!
You know how many penalties I've taken? And he spoke the same way to me.
That was for not washing dishes.
Imagine what he'd say when defending 46 million Argentines.
The ball wasn't going in.
I think it just came out at the moment
because, for us and for him,
a save is like a goal.
If he saves it, we're in the final. Cardona!
Dibu!
Incredible! Unbelievable! Martínez!
That's when Dibu arrived.
Argentina!
Argentina in the Copa América final!
That's when he started to step up and help us a lot.
Let's go, let's go, Argentina We're gonna win
No, honestly, it's a unique moment for me personally and for my family.
I became a father four days ago, and I still haven't met my daughter.
I'm chasing a dream,
which is to win a trophy with the national team.
Yes, it was a very difficult time for the family…
Imagine for him
being away from his daughter and unable to hold her.
And not just that. Ava was born,
and three weeks went by before he could hold her.
It's now or never against Brazil. Come on, Argentina!
He knew he'd save everything.
There was no other thought in his mind.
He was going to be the star.
Brazil looking for the equalizer. It's Neymar, good cross, cleared.
Martínez with an incredible save! What a performance!
Now's the time!
After 28 years,
the Argentine national team wins a trophy!
Messi said it in the pre-game pep talk.
Dibu couldn't hold his daughter, but his effort has paid off.
Dibu lifts the trophy, and Argentina is champion again!
"See? We won the Copa América thanks to the baby girl," I said.
It was a very difficult time, but at least they won. That's that.
Daddy!
Hi, sweetie! I missed you.
Give me a hug, a big hug.
And honestly, every time I see her,
I say, "She brought us the Copa América."
Once I became Argentina's number one and was going to play at the World Cup,
I focused on what I had to work on to win it.
But I didn't say, "I'm going to win the next World Cup in Qatar
as Argentina's star." No.
I have a process, but I'm not a jerk.
I know there's a story behind every process.
A new dream begins. We're in Qatar.
Two teams chasing a dream.
Another shot to place! What a goal!
It's a huge blow for Argentina. Great sadness.
Saudi Arabia 2, Argentina 1.
I remember there was silence in the locker room after the match.
You could hear the equipment manager picking up the cleats,
the sound of the studs.
I still remember it as if I'm seeing it in slow motion.
24 HOURS BEFORE THE MATCH AGAINST MEXICO
2-0 against Mexico, 2-0 against Mexico.
Remember.
I'll be the best in the World Cup.
After the victory against Mexico,
Argentina beat Poland 2-0 and won their group.
Warriors are born from setbacks, and I think we're stronger now.
FIFA WORLD CUP - QUARTER-FINAL ARGENTINA VS. NETHERLANDS
Van Dijk!
Dibu, Dibu, Dibu!
Dibu Martínez, phenomenal!
He grew even more in stature, if that was even possible.
Dibu, Dibu, Dibu Martínez!
Martínez saves it! You did it again!
A goalkeeper like that gives you a sense of security.
Messi's team is among the best four in the world.
Hugs, tears, you know. We were like two kids.
"You did it again. You helped us again."
It's always nicer when something good happens.
The dream is alive! It's getting closer!
Why is Argentina in the semi-finals?
Because we have guts, passion, heart, and we're doing it for 45 million people.
Argentina thrashed Croatia 3-0 and is in the final.
It's the most important match
of the last 36 years for the Argentine national team.
We were more than fine, winning the final 2-0, everyone happy,
and then suddenly, as always with Argentines, a wave hit us.
Mbappé! Goal for France!
Mbappé equalizes with a superb goal. Argentina now under pressure.
I can't believe it.
Talk about suffering, huh?
Argentines always have to suffer.
That's the way it is.
In the last minute, it was very…
just a standard game, totally normal.
Minute 123 of overtime.
It's the last play of the match, and it's France's ball.
Otamendi clears.
Konaté at the back. Look!
Otamendi misses, Kolo Muani shoots!
From the moment Otamendi missed, one or two seconds passed by.
This was match point, the defining moment for the French team.
I was frozen, even though I saw it.
I heard people screaming around me screaming, jumping,
and I was like a statue, expressionless.
I didn't rush out to make the goal smaller because he could've chipped it.
I didn't back off either. He would've passed it to Mbappé.
I stayed in the middle
where I could apply a little pressure and force him to shoot.
I told you. I decide if you become a hero or villain.
The ball hit me here, where the star is.
A little higher and it would have deflected and gone in.
You'd be left looking like an idiot for four years. You know?
It's the best save in history because of the context,
because it's the World Cup, the final,
after 123 minutes of play,
because of how Emiliano worked it.
I dare to say it because I'm convinced it's true.
Hey, wait, so a save is really like a goal, isn't it?
I wanted to go to penalty kicks.
Come on, Coman! Coman.
Martínez! Martínez! Dibu Martínez!
Come on, Argentina!
Argentina has the advantage in this penalty shootout.
I thought he'd miss under pressure. I thought he'd miss, not that I'd save it.
He shoots!
It goes out! Out! Out!
When he missed it, I felt this joy inside.
"He missed, just like I thought," you know?
Tchouaméni's shot goes out!
Dance, Dibu, dance!
Come on, Argentina! Montiel shoots!
Goal!
Argentina are world champions!
Embraced by all his teammates!
After 36 years, Argentina…
Argentina are world champions.
I went onto the pitch after the final,
and we just looked at each other.
I think sometimes a look says more than a thousand words, doesn't it?
You can't explain what you experience, how you feel.
Let's go, let's go, Argentina
Whatever happens, as a professional,
the group that played in the World Cup,
the 40 days we spent together at the university, we'll remember it.
I'm happy. You do it for pride and for passion.
I want to set the record for most caps as the national team's goalkeeper.
I have a lot of goals to achieve.
You're the best, Dibu! Thank you!
Proud that he's from Mar del Plata.
Dibu Martínez is the best.
The same haircut and dye job Dibu has.
He's an example that anything is possible.
Emiliano Dibu Martínez, distinguished citizen.
You look back and say, "He came from a small neighborhood pitch."
Sacrifice takes you to glory.
He always tried to achieve his goals.
Did it take a long time? Maybe.
Or maybe not, I don't know,
depending on how you look at it.
There he is. He'll stay with Grandad.
His success is the family's success
because behind every player,
there are people who support them and work hard.
Ale and I always try to fulfill our dreams like Emi did.
For me, it means everything. It's a lot.
I…
A lifetime of sacrifice, you know, you embrace it in two seconds.
He was born to be a goalkeeper.
Mom, Dad! We're champions!
Boys! Is that you?
Like, not scolding them, but "Boys…"
Hi, boys. How was school today?
I'm gonna eat you alive! I'm gonna eat you alive!
Here, try to block this one.
They're your school pants.
What will you wear tomorrow?
Actually, I left it on the bus, so I had to repair the pants with a patch.
Do I have to say, "Woo-hoo"?
Woo-hoo! Come on, Emi!
No!
What are you doing? Oh no!
Oh no! Oh!
Real luxury, huh?
Okay! That's it! Come on!
Awesome!
Subtitle translation by: Sofía Bentin