Safe to say that Cristiano Ronaldo won't be forgetting the name of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. Neither will Manchester United fans.
In the latest instance of master gamesmanship by the Argentine, who pushes the limits of sportsmanship, "Dibu" Martinez was once again playing mind games on a penalty kick. It paid off for him and his team after Aston Villa shocked Manchester United in a 1-0 road win.
Aston Villa was defending its one-goal lead with just a couple of minutes left in the match when the referee awarded a penalty to Manchester United and a chance for the Red Devils to save face.
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As Martinez saw Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes pick up the ball to take the penalty instead of Ronaldo, Martinez promptly pleaded with Ronaldo to take the penalty instead — all within earshot of Fernandes.
IM ALL HERE FOR THE “DIBU MARTINEZ BEGGING CRISTIANO TO TAKE THE PENALTY” MOMENT pic.twitter.com/nd8mLuGWGG
— Nico Cantor (@Nicocantor1) September 25, 2021
Did the sequence get to the head of Fernandes? It's hard not to think so after he totally missed the target, skying the ball above the crossbar. It was as bad a miss as you'll see on a professional soccer field at that level.
Manchester United had the chance to tie it from the spot in stoppage time, but Bruno didn't convert. 😳
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) September 25, 2021
📺 @peacockTV pic.twitter.com/xyMaOg9qqp
After the Fernandes penalty fail, Martinez turned to the Old Trafford crowd for a little hip action on his celebration dance:
Cuando vas a Stretford End e ibas a filmar el penal de Bruno Fernandes y al final te llevás el bailecito de Dibu Martínez. pic.twitter.com/9iUvcnXlBm
— Federico González (@federix12) September 25, 2021
Emiliano Martinez to the Man Utd fans after Bruno Fernandes missed the penalty. This man is a living legend. 😭 pic.twitter.com/ooQInzKLJ9
— Football Shithousery (@FootyRustling) September 25, 2021
Emi Martínez to the United fans. pic.twitter.com/Ic8pjeH9P5
— Eduardo Hagn (@EduardoHagn) September 25, 2021
More Martinez antics at the Copa America
This tactic has already worked for Martinez in a big spot earlier in summer: the semifinal of the Copa America. The match against Colombia went to a penalty-kick shootout, and Martinez used some old-fashioned trash-talking on every kick to help his team advance.
Argentina's starting goalkeeper was mouthing at each Colombian penalty-taker up until the moment they made contact with the ball. Most referees would have probably warned the goalkeeper or even carded him, but Martinez got away with it on every kick.
MORE: Lionel Messi's trash-talking during the Copa America
And when the broadcasters weren't talking over it, we were able to hear most of it since there are no fans permitted at Copa America matches:
- "You're nervous."
- "Looks like the ball is ahead [of the PK spot]."
- "I know you. I know where you like [to shoot the ball]."
- "Don't be a dummy."
- "I'm going to stop you."
Emiliano to Yerry Mina before saving his PK:
— Juan (@socraticjuan) July 7, 2021
“You’re nervous, eh? I can tell you’re nervous”
“I know where you’re going to shoot.”
“Watch and see how I’m gonna eat you up.” pic.twitter.com/4DDFsDJmKS
Martinez added an explicit celebration thrust after one of the stops. He made an unthinkable three saves in the shootout to send his team to the final, where the Argentines beat Brazil to help Lionel Messi win his first-ever title with Argentina.
Here's how Martinez celebrated the moment on social media:
Otra valla invicta para Dibu Martínez. Y nada más y nada menos que contra Manchester United y Cristiano Ronaldo.
— TNT Sports Argentina (@TNTSportsAR) September 25, 2021
Qué arquero que tenemos, señores pic.twitter.com/i9xi6sWVkC
Si Dibu Martínez está feliz, yo estoy feliz.
— TNT Sports Argentina (@TNTSportsAR) September 25, 2021
pic.twitter.com/jHZHcFKCHw
Nothing personal from Martinez, and no hard feelings after the final whistle.
- Chau Cristiano, la próxima patealo vos
— TNT Sports Argentina (@TNTSportsAR) September 25, 2021
Qué pedazo de foto Dibu Martínez Cristiano Ronaldo pic.twitter.com/r8wrPJCdNm
This is now his thing. And since Twitter enjoys characters, it celebrated Martinez's antics against Manchester United, as his legend continues to grow:
Que sequência sensacional do Dibu Martinez.
— Júnior Marques (@jamarquesjunior) September 25, 2021
Pro Cristiano Ronaldo: "chuta você" pic.twitter.com/qNzvbIEEIF
Tu equipo le está ganando 1-0 al United en el Old Trafford y al último minuto le cobran un penal encontra. Lo último que se me ocurriría es señalar y decirle a Cristiano Ronaldo “patealo vos”. El Dibu Martinez está loco. pic.twitter.com/8dRH6Y43pn
— Davoo Xeneize (@DavooXeneizeJRR) September 25, 2021
"Vení, patealo vos" De Dibu Martínez a Cristiano Ronaldo. Minuto 91. Penal para Manchester United. La historia termina con bailecito. Una bestia mental pic.twitter.com/v4j7u4haLo
— Bruno González García (@gonzalezbruno) September 25, 2021
Another clean sheet for Dibu Martinez.
— Luis Miguel Echegaray (@lmechegaray) September 25, 2021
REY MARTINEZ. THOUGHTS? pic.twitter.com/uS5fj1Iey0
— Out Of Context Football (@nocontextfooty) September 25, 2021
Bruno Fernandes falló el panel que le daba el empate al #United ante el #AstonVilla y Dibu Martínez lo festejó de esta manera #PremierLeague . pic.twitter.com/sDF5VVcWxZ
— Falso Nueve (@falsonueve_f9) September 25, 2021
"Vení a pateralo vos". pic.twitter.com/ZvuJ8gbNL7
— Martina Gallucci (@MarGallucci) September 25, 2021