Objectively, Emiliano Martínez is the best goalkeeper in the world. Others who aren't the Aston Villa No. 1 may sometimes have out-of-body moments that allow them to produce spectacular goal-preventing measures. For Dibu, they simply happen more consistently, and his overall play is consistently better.
In one of the few awards that those making the selections have gotten right in recent memory, Martínez has won the Premier League's Save of the Season. His effort against Nottingham Forest during the December 14th fixture of the 2024-2025 season impressed and received universal praise at the time.
The Elliot Anderson corner took a deflection from Morgan Gibbs-White on its way to Nicolás Domínguez, who must have thought that he had scored at the time. It was a set-piece attempt that came in with pace and then squarely found the head of an attacking player inside of the six-yard box.
At point-blank range, to have such reflexes and strength to push the ball away and keep it from clearing the goal line can only be described as incredible.
It is one of those saves that one can watch over and over again without ceasing to be amazed. To list anyone other than Dibu as the best in the world at what he does looks silly when watching clips like this.
Take into consideration the stability that he provides for Villa, and his status should be secure.
World class status should not be questioned for Aston Villa GK
Some may point to the handful of errors that Martínez has made. It is an unforgiving position that highlights the players standing between the posts when they have an off moment.
From how he responds on those rare occasions when something does happen to how Martínez plays as a keeper throughout all of the 90 minutes anyway, it is clear that he is not only Villa's No. 1 but the world's No. 1.