Goalkeeper · #1

Emiliano Martínez

Argentina · 6'5" · 34

$10.2M

From Aston Villa

—

per week

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His role

Martínez is the win-now goalkeeper: huge on crosses, elite in one-on-ones and built for the ugly, high-pressure moments that decide knockout games. He commands the box loudly, starts counterattacks quickly and gives Chelsea a genuine shootout weapon while Mike Penders develops behind him.

His story

01
Drama
The World Cup final was goalkeeping wrapped in psychological warfare
With the 2022 final tied 3–3 in the 123rd minute, Martínez spread himself to block Randal Kolo Muani and keep Argentina alive. Then came the shootout: he saved Kingsley Coman's penalty, threw the ball away before Aurélien Tchouaméni's miss and danced across the goalmouth. Argentina won the shootout; Martínez won the Golden Glove.
02
Drama
He used the World Cup's best-goalkeeper trophy as a giant gold boner
Seconds after FIFA handed him the Golden Glove, Martínez planted the trophy against his crotch and waved it at the stadium like a giant gold boner. He said the French boos prompted it, then recreated the pose with replica trophies at Argentina's first home match after the World Cup. World champion, best goalkeeper and owner of football's most famous trophy dick joke — all within about five minutes.
03
Drama
He got two yellow cards, stayed on, saved two penalties and danced at Lille
Martínez was booked for time-wasting during Aston Villa's 2024 tie at Lille, then shown another yellow for shushing the home crowd during the shootout. Everyone thought he was off. Shootout cautions are counted separately, so he stayed, saved from Nabil Bentaleb and Benjamin André, danced at the French crowd and knocked Lille out anyway. Weapon-grade shithousery, backed by a very obscure law.
04
Drama
His penalty method is talking absolute shit until somebody cracks
The microphones caught the whole routine in Argentina's 2021 Copa América semi-final against Colombia. Martínez prowled, delayed and told Yerry Mina, “Mirá que te como, hermano” — look, I'll eat you up, brother. He saved three penalties and sent Argentina to the final. FIFA later tightened the laws to stop goalkeepers distracting takers quite so aggressively; Dibu had turned being an unbearable bastard into a competitive advantage.
05
Off the pitch
Ten years, six loans and 25 Arsenal games before anybody trusted him
Martínez left Argentina at seventeen after watching his parents skip meals and struggle with bills. Arsenal kept him for a decade but sent him on six loans, and his real chance arrived only when Bernd Leno was injured in 2020. He won the FA Cup against Chelsea, left for Aston Villa and became Argentina's goalkeeper. By then he was 27.