Dibu Martínez and his first photo after the crash that fractured his jaw, with an unusual and admirable detail

Neither the hospitalization nor the surgery made Emiliano Martínez stop thinking like a goalkeeper. Dibu published his first photo after the surgery and brought reassurance about his condition, but he also surprised by rescuing a strictly football-related detail: Chelsea won and he kept the net invulnerable. In the image, he is seen lying in the hospital bed, dressed in medical clothes and holding up three fingers. His face does not show marked swelling, although he keeps his mouth closed after the operation. "Thank you all for the messages. The operation went well. The most important thing is that we won and with the net at zero. We will be back in a few weeks," wrote the world champion. The phrase reflects the competitive mentality that turned the Marplatense into one of the figures of the Argentine National Team. After the strong blow, the tests, the hospitalization, and the surgery, his first public reaction was to celebrate the triumph and emphasize that he had not received any goals. Martínez was injured during the 2-0 victory over Chelsea against Everton. The goalkeeper came out to save a cross and suffered a strong collision with Jarrad Branthwaite. He lay on the pitch and had to be attended to for several minutes before leaving the field immobilized in a stretcher. THE PLAY THAT REMOVED DIBU FROM THE FIELD: Emiliano Martínez came out to cut off a cross, but suffered a strong collision with Branthwaite and the Argentine goalkeeper had to leave the playing field on a stretcher. — SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) October 17, 2026 📺 Watch the Premier League on ESPN in the Premium Plan of #DisneyPlus pic.twitter.com/F56nOkoXCB Dibu was transferred to a hospital for tests. The checks on his head, neck, and back did not detect serious injuries, but the doctors confirmed an injury to the jaw that necessitated the operation. Chelsea was winning 1-0 when Martínez left the field and then secured the victory without conceding so many. That is why, beyond the scare and the concern caused by the images, the goalkeeper claimed his part in the result: he was in goal for most of the match and prevented Everton from tying. Now he will begin recovery. The club has not yet announced an exact date for his return, but Dibu himself indicated that he expects to return in a few weeks. His message, in addition to bringing reassurance, once again showed one of his most recognizable characteristics: even from a hospital bed, his main concern is still that the ball does not get in. Newsletter Clarín I received all the news, stories, and analyses from the journalists of Clarín in your email. I WANT TO RECEIVE IT