Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez fully trusts the Argentina team, but he is not confident. On the eve of the grand final of the 2026 World Cup against Spain, the goalkeeper preferred to leave the spotlight aside: “Many things can be said, but the first and most important thing is to win,” he stated at a press conference.

The Albiceleste is on the verge of a historic two-time championship. If they beat the “Spanish Army”, they will achieve something that has not happened for 64 years, when Pelé's Brazil lifted the cups in Sweden 1958 and Chile 1962. Despite the fact, Martínez assures that the team does not think about legacies.

The controversial Aston Villa goalkeeper let out his most human side: "We don't come across as naive or modest; we prefer to keep our emotions anonymous. Even so, I can confess that sometimes I cry just thinking about what we have achieved."Dibu's ordeal: He played in the World Cup with an injured hand

The road to the final was not easy. Martínez revealed that he has had to make an extreme sacrifice to defend the South American goal due to a serious hand injury.

The worst moment: “Until two days before the first game I was throwing myself with one hand as if I were one-handed,” he confessed.

Recovery: The situation improved after the round of 16, allowing him to train normally.

The Mar del Plata goalkeeper assured that he faces Sunday's game with complete peace of mind. His main objective is to transmit security from the back so that his teammates can display their best football. “His big wish for Sunday is to keep a clean sheet.”

An Argentina without individualism

For “Dibu”, the true strength of the current world champions lies in the collective and not in the individualities. “I care that my teammates and the coach trust me,” stated the goalkeeper. In addition, he expressed that his greatest desire is for the new generations to remember him in the future as a clear example of sacrifice and personal improvement.

Praise for Spain and a dart to Qatar 2022

When analyzing his rival, Martínez praised Luis de la Fuente's approach. He warned that Spain is much more than the magic of its young star, Lamine Yamal, and highlighted the collective functioning of the Hispanic team.

To close, the goalkeeper left a phrase that ignited the debate: he confessed that he is enjoying this 2026 World Cup much more than the Qatar 2022 one. This will be the fifth final he has played defending the Albiceleste goal, a scenario where he feels more comfortable than ever.