Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez today secured second place in an international award for the world’s best netminder. The International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) gave the World’s Best Goalkeeper 2022 Award to Belgium’s and Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who had already scooped the prize in 2018.

According to the IFHHS, Courtois’ victory over Martínez was “very tight”, earning a total of 125 points, only 15 more than “Dibu”, who got 110. The third spot went to Moroccan Yassine Bounou, who plays for Sevilla Football Club and earned a total of 55 points.

In 2021, Martínez had secured fourth place in the IFFHS ranking.

Born in Mar del Plata, Martínez is the goalkeeper for the Argentine squad and the Aston Villa Football Club in Birmingham. The IFFHS website deemed the Argentine’s performance in Qatar to be “impressive”. His heroics were crucial for La Albiceleste’s win in the 2022 Qatar World Cup and also earned him the FIFA Golden Glove.

The IFFHS was founded in 1984 in Leipzig, Germany, and is today registered in Zurich, Switzerland. The institution is recognized by FIFA, although the international football federation has its own rankings and awards.