Martinez's penalty-saving numbers
Emiliano Martinez has carved out a reputation as one of football's most feared penalty specialists. Across his club and international career, the Argentina goalkeeper has faced 30 penalties in regular play and saved 11 — a save rate of almost 37%, according to Transfermarkt data. That figure climbs even higher in shootouts, where he has denied eight of the 18 kicks he has faced, including multiple decisive stops in major finals.
Big-game heroics
Martinez's shootout pedigree was cemented on the international stage. In the 2021 Copa America semi‑final against Colombia, he saved three penalties to send Argentina to the final. A year later, in the World Cup final against France, he produced a stunning save from Kingsley Coman and again frustrated Les Bleus in the shootout as Argentina lifted the trophy.
Mind games on the line
Equally important are the psychological battles. Martinez is notorious for his confrontational approach, talking to opponents, delaying their run‑ups, and throwing the ball away to disrupt rhythm. It’s a tactic that has drawn criticism but one that opponents admit can unsettle even the most composed takers. “He gets in your head,” an unnamed Premier League striker once told FourFourTwo. “You know what he’s doing but it still works.”
With Argentina set to face England in the World Cup semi‑finals, Martinez’s record and mind games could again be the difference. Read more on his career at FourFourTwo.