Emi Martínez: The Kid Who Stops Time (Dibu Martínez: El pibe que ataja el tiempo)

Throughout the history of soccer,

we've seen great players who are all focused one goal,

which is to score.

But there are also those who are always trying to catch us,

who wanna stop us, and not let us in the goal.

And for some strange reason,

it seems like everyone wants to be a goalkeeper now.

Why's that? Huh?

Maybe… it has to do with this one guy.

So today, I'm gonna tell you a story about a certain Emiliano Martínez.

Well, yeah, the one you and everyone calls Dibu.

The FIFA Best Goalkeeper award for the best goalkeeper of the season

goes to Argentina’s… Emiliano Martínez.

Everyone asks me who my idols were growing up.

Or which goalkeepers inspired me when I was a kid.

And I've always said, "Witnessing my mom cleaning buildings

for eight… or nine hours a day."

"And my Dad… work hard."

The truth is, they're my idols.

Thank you all.

DIBU MARTÍNEZ IS THE WORLD'S BEST KEEPER

He's a World Cup winner and the best goalkeeper.

Emiliano Martínez, the season's best goalkeeper.

EMILIANO MARTÍNEZ SEASON'S BEST

Best goalkeeper of the 2021 Copa América.

At the Ballon d'Or ceremony,

Dibu Martínez won the Yashin for world's best goalkeeper.

Again, Dibu Martínez won The Best award

as the world's top goalkeeper.

It's what every kid dreams of since the age of six.

It was my goal, and I knew I was ready for it.

Huh?

- -

BASED ON A SHORT STORY BY HERNÁN CASCIARI

Mm… Mm… Mm…

- You can't do it! - You're useless in the goal!

- You're stupid. - You're worthless, goalkeeper!

The ball never scared me. I'm very demanding… of myself.

I saw the other goalkeeper, and I couldn’t understand

why he wasn’t getting a chance.

I put up with everything,

but not being able to play was something I couldn’t deal with.

It felt like I was stuck.

There was a lot of sacrifice. It didn't happen overnight.

I expected him to say, "I'm done, I wanna come back."

He was a kid who came here with one goal… to make it.

His mindset is what sets him apart. That journey made him stronger.

We're going to play with Emiliano Martínez.

The level Emiliano's been performing at really speaks for itself.

And this could be his chance.

WHO IS EMILIANO MARTÍNEZ?

No one knows you! With those two goalkeepers, what does Martínez change?

DOUBTS IN NATIONAL TEAM'S GOAL

They say you owe all your success to the coach!

If you don't pay for the cable, you don't know where this guy plays.

What will he try and goal?

Until things just clicked.

I’m not new to the national team.

I’ve played in the Under-20 and Under-17 World Cups.

Hey there, little champ.

I'm the one who decides if you're a hero or a villain now.

I know I gave the national team a boost of positivity.

If I choose correctly, there's an 80% chance I'll save it.

I'm gonna eat you alive!

Dibu is a real character, he's a bit crazy, and if he told you that,

you can be sure it's gonna happen.

He’s been a really positive addition to the group.

First, with the saves.

-And with his personality. -You're nervous, aren't you?

Whether I play well or not, I know the confidence is there.

I knew that once he joined the national team,

he wouldn't let go of the gloves.

Dibu is such an amazing person. He really is.

He made them feel like they could step up and take the shot,

but they wouldn't score.

When he's in goal, he seems to grow.

If he had to go straight into the post 2to make the save, he’d do it.

He's definitely got a sixth sense.

I could tell he had something.

He's the one who really knows why.

That's what he was born for, to be a goalkeeper.

DIBU MARTÍNEZ THE KID WHO STOPS TIME

About a billion and a half TV viewers across the world

are watching this game.

Argentina versus France!

Please, just allow me to dream a little!

Messi's team against Mbappé's.

Who will take all the glory?

As I walked out to play the World Cup final,

I felt a pit in my stomach that I'd never felt as a professional player.

When you see that giant World Cup

in the middle of the field,

and the nearly 70,000 people in the Lusail Stadium…

…you begin to understand what it feels like

to play in a World Cup final.

[all singing along to Argentine national anthem]

We believe in you guys.

We believe in this team. Come on, Argentina!

Seeing all those people sing,

made me feel as if I was… transported back to Argentina and my childhood school.

SAGRADA FAMILIA SCHOOL

Little Coco was over there.

And a little further down, Ale, my older brother.

The teacher was leading the kids in singing.

And that's when… I discovered the switch.

- -

Oh, wow. What's this?

Why's there a switch in my belly button?

- -

Huh?

Oh, no. What's going on?

Hello? Hello?

Are all of you frozen?

This is so weird.

Hey, teacher! What's happening?

What's going on? Someone answer me!

Coco! Uh, Coco! Coco, talk to me.

Teacher, Coco's not moving.

This can't be happening! What did I do?

What's this? What did I do?

What… did I just do?

I’ve been all over,

but Mar del Plata will always be my hometown.

From walking to the bus stop at 7:00 in the morning

so I could get to school on time,

to walking in the afternoons

from Punta Mogotes beach to the Jardín neighborhood,

which always took about 30 or 40 minutes.

Riding my bike to the field with the wooden goal, no net.

My brother and I spent a lot of time together, just the two of us.

The essence of our family, the way our parents raised us…

BROTHER

…is what gave us that sense of brotherhood.

We were definitely attached at the hip.

We had a wire fence at the front of the house.

I think it was… about 15 meters from end to end.

And the ball went back and forth all day.

Penalties, headers, chest touches, rabonas,

whatever it was, we'd play it.

Every day, we made up new games, and there was always a ball involved.

Emi, go in goal.

No, but I want to play up front.

I'll play up front and score. You don't let them in, okay?

Sure.

Lucas the Tank,

Mosquito Brady,

Curly Loquercio, Diego Garello,

Pata Suárez, Ariel Armageddon.

Ariel drives down the right with the ball.

-Armageddon shoots. -Oh, no, no!

Goal! Emiliano was caught off guard.

- - Curly drives toward the penalty area.

-Foul. That's a foul. -

Move that way… no. Move over. That's it. You're good.

-Toto Bertoglio. -

-Hmm. - That's a long… very high cross.

-A giant header! -No!

-Oh! -

-No! No! - Coco tries to stop the ball!

- - But he sends it in!

-No! - It's Little Coco.

No, why?!

-Little goalie, soccer's for grown-ups. -

Why don't you join them building sandcastles?

- -Ah! Huh!

- What a beautiful pass! -Oh no!

Armageddon is approaching at full speed!

-Hmm… Mm… Mm! -

Hey! What do you think you're doing?

No, hey, don't do it. No, what are you doing?

Stop that right now. Don't do it!

I'm gonna eat you up, bro. I'm gonna eat you alive!

Incredible save from Emiliano Martínez! It's unbelievable!

-Emiliano saves the ball! -

-This will go down in history! -

-Go! -It is truly 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 drag both of us by the ears.