Fernando Romero Nuñez Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez has sparked concern among Argentina fans after saying he will “have to think if it’s time to step aside” from the national team.
Martínez, who returned to Argentina on Monday night alongside several teammates and was greeted by crowds of supporters near the airport, was among the last members of the squad to reflect publicly on the Albiceleste’s performance at the 2026 World Cup.
“I dreamt we won it again,” he wrote in a post on Instagram. “I dreamt we brought it back to Argentina and made history once again.”
Martínez said the pain of losing the final to Spain is “hard to explain” and apologized, saying he had tried to “do the most to help the country and [his] teammates.”
“I’ll have to reflect, see how to move forward, and think if it’s time to step aside,” he wrote.
The post was immediately met with messages of support from fans, who urged him not to retire from international football and thanked him for his contributions since joining the national team.
Martínez endured an inconsistent World Cup campaign. Although he was rarely tested, he conceded frequently when called into action, most notably against Egypt in the round of 16.
His standout performance came in the final, where he made a record 11 saves, the highest tally ever recorded by a goalkeeper in a World Cup final.
Other players react
Martínez was not the only player to speak about the disappointment of defeat, with several teammates sharing messages on their personal Instagram accounts.
Rodrigo De Paul, who traveled to Miami instead of returning to Argentina, said the greatest pain was being unable to “bring the World Cup back to our country,” adding that “if anyone deserved to experience that feeling again, it was [the fans].”
Lautaro Martínez said he remained “proud to be Argentine,” while expressing his frustration at missing the final, saying he “would’ve liked the chance to help the team on the pitch.”
Cristian Romero apologized to supporters for “not being able to gift them the joy” of winning another World Cup and thanked “every Argentine who supported us from every corner of the world.”
“We feel that love every day,” he wrote.
Enzo Fernández, who was sent off in the final after a reckless challenge on Spain’s Pau Cubarsí earned him a second yellow card, said wearing Argentina’s shirt is “the greatest honor of [his] career” and vowed to “continue giving it [his] all every time [he] gets the chance to defend it.”
Messi in Rosario
Argentina captain Lionel Messi arrived in Rosario on Tuesday to spend a few days with his family before rejoining Inter Miami for the resumption of club competition.
Messi did not return to Argentina with the rest of the squad after the final, instead flying to Miami before traveling on to his hometown.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is expected to visit his father, who suffered serious health problems in the lead-up to the World Cup.
During Argentina’s opening match against Algeria in June, Messi was seen in tears after scoring the team’s first goal of the tournament. He later explained that they were prompted by “an issue completely unrelated to sports.”
Days later, false reports claiming his father had died circulated online, prompting the family to publicly deny the rumors and condemn the spread of misinformation.
Cover image: Selección Argentina twitter
