Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martinez may consider stepping aside from international duty

By Arjun Sharma — 21 July 2026 — 3 min read

Martinez reflects on international future

Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martinez has indicated he is considering his future with the national team following their 1-0 defeat to Spain in the World Cup final. The 33-year-old, who has earned 67 caps for his country, played every minute of Argentina’s eight World Cup matches, securing two clean sheets and conceding eight goals during the tournament.

Martinez expressed his sentiments in an emotional social media post, stating, “I dreamt we’d win it again, I dreamt of bringing it back to Argentina and making history once more.” He added that “the pain is hard to explain” and that he is reflecting on how to move forward, including whether it is “time to step aside.” He concluded his message by apologising, saying, “I’m so sorry, I truly tried my best to help my country and my team-mates.”

This message has led to speculation that one of Argentina’s prominent players could be preparing to retire from international football. Martinez was a key figure in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup victory, where he also received the Golden Glove award as the tournament’s best goalkeeper.

Performance in the final and career accolades

Despite the defeat, Martinez delivered a notable performance in the final. Reports indicate he played with a broken finger, an injury he had been carrying since May, having delayed surgery to represent Argentina. During the match, he made 11 saves, which is noted as the most by a goalkeeper in a World Cup final. He consistently thwarted Spain’s attempts, denying players like Nico Williams, Rodrigo De Paul, and Lamine Yamal with a series of saves that kept Argentina in contention for over 100 minutes.

Spain’s manager, Luis de la Fuente, acknowledged Martinez’s exceptional display, stating, “We should have put the game to bed much earlier. We had many chances. But Dibu was nothing short of exceptional. It was thanks to Dibu’s saves, and this goes to show that winning is very difficult.”

Martinez’s resistance was eventually broken in the 106th minute when Ferran Torres scored the winning goal. This occurred after Argentina had been reduced to 10 men following Enzo Fernandez’s second yellow card late in normal time.

Ongoing career and potential move

Martinez’s individual accolades extend beyond the World Cup. He won the Yashin Trophy, awarded to the world’s best goalkeeper at the Ballon d’Or awards, in both 2023 and 2024. These awards further highlight his consistent performance at the highest level of football.

He has been with Aston Villa since 2020 and has a contract with the club until 2029. However, there have been reports linking him with a potential move to Italian side Juventus this summer. His future at club level remains a separate consideration from his international career reflections.

The defeat in the final meant Argentina could not become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend the World Cup title. Martinez’s career includes a World Cup winners’ medal and numerous memorable saves, including a notable stop against France in the 2022 final.

Source: bbc.com