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 towards his River colleague, with whom he shared call-ups and the team for more than five years.

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

Teammates under Lionel Scaloni's management since 2019, post-2018 Russia World Cup, they have always maintained a very good relationship. They shared the team in practically all the South American Qualifiers heading to Qatar, in several friendlies, in three Copa América, and in the 2022 World Cup.

The goal was Armani's property during the period 2018/2021, with a good performance in the United States 2019 (essential penalty saved against Paraguay in the group stage), and a good record under the albiceleste posts. The Octopus completed 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, just before that year's Copa América, Dibu Martínez took his place. And the story changed forever. In great form, he was decisive in the penalties in the semifinals against Colombia, then defeated Brazil in the final at the Maracanã, breaking the 28-year title drought.

Later, he repeated nothing less than in the Qatar 2022 World Cup and the 2024 Copa América. In this continental event in the United States, it was the last time Dibu and Armani shared the team. However, when recognized by a journalist as the best goalkeeper in Argentine history, Dibu did not hesitate and casually responded: “No, the best goalkeeper is Armani”.

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

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

Additionally, in recent weeks, he was decisive for River in two penalty shootouts to get his team into the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores and the Copa Argentina. With the three shots he saved, added to the three he stopped against Talleres (2) in the International Super Cup 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 behind 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.