Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez is making a direct, non-stop leap from the goal to the small screen. Netflix confirmed that the Argentine goalkeeper will have his own animated film titled: “Dibu Martínez: El pibe que ataja el tiempo” [The Kid Who Stops Time].”
The film will offer a journey through the goalkeeper’s career, from his early days in Mar del Plata, Argentina, to his rise as one of the top figures in Argentine soccer and the world.
Dibu Martínez, the movie
As part of a new edition of “Made in Argentina,” Netflix inaugurated its offices in the country on Tuesday, April 7, and unveiled its planned content for 2026 and 2027.
There, the streaming platform revealed that the Aston Villa goalkeeper will have his own movie, and although they did not give an exact release date, it is expected to premiere this year.
The film, directed by Gustavo Cova and written by Hernán Casciari, offers an original take on the life of Emiliano Martínez, from his childhood to his early move to Europe and his subsequent rise to prominence with the Argentine national team where he made his debut in 2021 and shone with his key performance in the 2021 and 2024 Copa América, 2022 Finalissima, and in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he stood out with crucial saves and leadership within the team that became champion.
Through a boy who discovers he has the power to stop time and converses with a soccer ball that reminds him of all the challenges ahead, Netflix aims to craft a narrative that goes beyond the realm of sports.
To do so, the film will feature a combination of illustrations by the famous Argentine cartoonist Ricardo Siri (popularly known as Liniers), archival footage, and interviews with his friends, family, and teammates, to provide an insider’s perspective on how his soccer career took shape.
Additionally, the film will be executive produced by Sergio Ferraro and Alejandro Greco, showrun by Andrés Emilio, and produced by Pegsa, establishing itself as one of the platform’s major investments in Argentine content.
In the first and only image Netflix shared on its official Instagram account, Dibu is seen in his green national team uniform alongside an illustration of himself also wearing a goalkeeper’s outfit with the number 23 on his back.
“This news is worth shouting about, just like a save. Dibu Martínez: The Kid Who Stops Time, written by Hernán Casciari, illustrated by Liniers, and directed by Gustavo Cova, is a film that blends never-before-seen testimonies with animation to trace the story of the kid who dreamed of the goal and ended up becoming one of the greatest heroes of the Argentine national team,” the streaming platform stated.
The announcement deeply delighted soccer fans, who commented enthusiastically: “the best goalkeeper in the world,” “a gem,” “my goalkeeper, my 23, my hero, my pride,” “Let’s goooooooooo.”
With this film, Netflix not only celebrates an Argentine soccer icon but also offers a story that inspires new generations to pursue their dreams with passion, discipline, and courage.
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