Emiliano Martínez, known as Dibu, remains one of the cornerstones of the Argentina national team and, at 32 years old, has firmly established himself as one of the most prominent goalkeepers in Argentine football history. Following Argentina's 1-0 victory over Uruguay in Montevideo, which put the Albiceleste on the verge of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, the Aston Villa goalkeeper spoke once again about his obsession with a very special record: surpassing Sergio Romero's record for the most clean sheets in the history of the national team.

"I'm a stats freak"

The Argentine goalkeeper did not hide his passion for statistics and his desire to reach new milestones in his career. After another match in which he kept a clean sheet, Martínez made it clear that he is determined to break Chiquito Romero's record for the most clean sheets in Argentina's history. “I'm a stats freak. With Martín (Tocalli), we always say, 'One less, one less.’ I want the record for the most clean sheets," said Dibu, emphasizing that his motivation is not only personal but also collective. "The biggest goal is to qualify for the World Cup and grow as a team," he added.

With this new victory and his recent game without conceding a goal, Emiliano Martínez now has 36 clean sheets, getting closer to Romero's 47 clean sheets. In this way, Martínez has become the second goalkeeper with the most clean sheets in the history of the Argentina national team.

One Step Away from Breaking Romero’s Record

Although Martínez has only played 50 matches for the Albiceleste, his performances have been outstanding. In just 36 of those matches, he has managed to keep a clean sheet, a remarkable achievement that brings him closer to tying Sergio Romero's record, who played 96 matches for the national team. Martínez has also surpassed other legendary goalkeepers in Argentina's history, such as Pato Abbondanzieri, Sergio Goycochea, and Antonio Roma, who also left their mark on the Albiceleste.

The goalkeeper, who made his debut in June 2021 with a 1-1 draw against Chile in the South American qualifiers, has proven to be a key player for the team, not only with his impressive goalkeeping skills but also with his leadership and winning mentality. His goal of surpassing Chiquito Romero’s record keeps him motivated to continue working hard in training and matches, always seeking to improve.

The Upcoming Challenges: More Matches and New Records

With Argentina’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup nearly secured, Emiliano Martínez knows that several key matches remain in the South American qualifiers. The first of these clashes will be the classic against Brazil at the Monumental next Tuesday, followed by matches against Chile, Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador. These games will not only be crucial to confirm their World Cup spot but also for Martínez to get closer to his goal of breaking Romero's record and reaching 100 appearances with the national team, a milestone that would make him the goalkeeper with the most caps in the history of the Albiceleste.

Emiliano Martínez continues to chase his dream of becoming the best goalkeeper in Argentina national team history, and his obsession with statistics reflects his constant effort to push himself further. Without a doubt, his legacy with the Albiceleste continues to grow.