Dibu Martínez reveals secrets of the final vs Spain: 'We can't go to penalties'
Emiliano Martínez said he heard Spanish players urging each other to settle the World Cup before the shootout. He also shared what one of the rival goalkeepers admitted to him.
Dibu Martínez was convinced Argentina would win the 2026 World Cup if the final against Spain went to penalties. Now the goalkeeper says that feeling was shared by his opponents: he claims he heard Spanish players insisting they had to settle the match before the shootout.
In an interview, Emiliano recalled what, by his account, he heard while heading to his goal: Spain's players were calling for the game to be won in open play to avoid a decision from the spot.
'Even they thought we'd beat them if it went to penalties.'
The goalkeeper added another detail: one of Spain's goalkeepers reportedly admitted his relief at securing the win during the match. Martínez did not identify which goalkeeper he spoke with.
Spain ended up winning 1–0 with a Ferran Torres goal in extra time. The shootout the Argentine had imagined never came.
Confidence with a track record
His confidence had history behind it. Martínez was decisive against Colombia at the 2021 Copa América, against the Netherlands and France at Qatar 2022, and against Ecuador at the 2024 Copa América. In all four shootouts, Argentina advanced or lifted the trophy.
Enzo Fernández also recently said he was convinced they would have won on penalties with Dibu in goal, although he acknowledged Spain's superiority in the final.
He played the World Cup with a broken finger
The interview also shed light on the goalkeeper's effort: Martínez said he played the World Cup with a fracture in the ring finger of his right hand, wearing protection and a modified glove. He explained that he chose to postpone surgery so he could play.
While still confident about what Argentina could do in a rematch, the goalkeeper acknowledged the rival's win: 'They beat us fair and square.'
Spain lifted the Cup before reaching the stage Martínez wanted to play. That shootout that never happened remains one of the thorns the final left him with.
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