Emiliano Martínez left Argentina for Arsenal at 17 and spent most of the next decade on loan, with spells at Oxford United, Sheffield Wednesday, Wolves, Getafe and Reading among others. His chance finally came in 2020, when injuries gave him a run in Arsenal’s goal and he helped them win the FA Cup.
Aston Villa signed him that summer, and he became one of the Premier League’s most reliable goalkeepers, helping Villa reach the Champions League. For Argentina he was even more important: he won the 2021 Copa América, then the 2022 World Cup, where his saves in two penalty shoot-outs and a last-minute stop against France in the final earned him the Golden Glove. He added a second Copa América in 2024.
Chelsea signed him in summer 2026. Martínez is known for his presence, his penalty-saving and his gamesmanship in shoot-outs.
Playing style
Martínez is an imposing, charismatic goalkeeper. At 1.95 m he covers the goal well, and his reflexes and agility make him an excellent shot-stopper. He is at his best in big moments, particularly penalty shoot-outs, where his size, confidence and gamesmanship unsettle opponents. His distribution is solid, and he is vocal in organising his defence. His career is a story of persistence: after a decade of loans in the lower leagues, he became one of the best goalkeepers in the world in his late twenties.
International career
Martínez made his Argentina debut in 2021 and quickly became first choice. He won the 2021 Copa América, saving three penalties in the semi-final shoot-out against Colombia. At the 2022 World Cup he made a crucial save from Randal Kolo Muani in the last minute of extra time in the final and saved a penalty in the shoot-out, winning the Golden Glove. He added the 2024 Copa América.
Career in numbers
Across 16 seasons of senior club football, beginning in 2011/12, Martínez has played 362 matches for 9 clubs. His busiest campaign was 2024/25, when he played 53 matches for Aston Villa. So far in 2026/27 he has made 4 appearances for Chelsea. The full season-by-season record is in the Stats section of this profile.
