The stats behind Dibu Martínez’s claim: “Armani is the best ever” | OneFootball

After the victory against Venezuela, the goalkeeper of the Argentina National Team surprised everyone with a tremendous compliment for his River colleague, with whom he shared call-ups and the squad for more than five years.

A vital figure in winning two Copa América titles and a World Cup, no less, Emiliano Martínez is already a legend in the Argentina National Team. However, after last night's win over Venezuela, Dibu was about to receive a gift for his birthday and for being the best goalkeeper in the country's history, but he surprised everyone: “No, the best goalkeeper is Armani”, he said with a smile.

Teammates under Lionel Scaloni since 2019, after the 2018 Russia World Cup, they have always maintained a very good relationship. They shared the squad in practically all the South American Qualifiers on the road to Qatar, in several friendlies, in three Copa América tournaments, and in the 2022 World Cup.

The goal belonged to Armani during the 2018/2021 period, with a good performance in the United States in 2019 (a crucial penalty save against Paraguay in the group stage), and a solid record under the albiceleste goalposts. El Pulpo played 19 matches, conceded 18 goals, and kept a clean sheet on eight occasions. With him, the National Team achieved 12 wins, three draws, and four losses.

But River’s number 1 contracted Covid-19 in mid-2021 and, right before that year’s Copa América, Dibu Martínez took his place. And history changed forever. In great form, he was decisive in the penalty shootout in the semifinals against Colombia, then defeated Brazil in the final at the Maracanã, breaking the 28-year title drought.

Afterwards, he repeated the feat in the Qatar 2022 World Cup and the 2024 Copa América. In this continental tournament in the United States, it was the last time Dibu and Armani shared the squad. However, when a journalist recognized him as the best goalkeeper in Argentina’s history, Dibu didn’t hesitate and, in passing, replied: “No, the best goalkeeper is Armani”.

Franco Armani’s numbers that make him one of the most important goalkeepers in history

While Dibu’s statement was an exaggeration, it’s understandable given their great relationship and, moreover, the career of the Argentine goalkeeper with the most titles in history. Armani has achieved no less than 27 titles in his career, far ahead of Roberto Abbondanzieri’s 16, who is second in this ranking. Martínez, for his part, has 10 trophies, although, of course, he was the star and recognized as the best of the tournament in a World Cup and two Copa América tournaments.

Additionally, in recent weeks, he was decisive for River in two penalty shootouts to take his team to the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores and Copa Argentina. With the three penalties he saved, plus the three he stopped against Talleres (2) in the Supercopa Internacional and against Platense (1) in the Copa de la Liga, Armani became the second Argentine goalkeeper with the most penalties saved, with 34. Still far ahead is Ubaldo Matildo Fillol, with 44. Meanwhile, Dibu Martínez is trailing, with 21.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.