Martinez wins Premier League Save of the Month award

Emiliano Martinez has won December 2024's Premier League Save of the Month award for his jaw-dropping stop on the goalline for Aston Villa at Nottingham Forest. 

Martinez produced one of the best saves in Premier League history, somehow twisting his body to stop Nicolas Dominguez's header from a corner centimetres before it crossed the line. 

“Finally, I won one,” Martinez told Villa's official website. “I’ve been nominated so many times and never had the chance to win it.

“It was a really good stop. It was a shame that we couldn’t get the win after the stop, but that’s why you work a lot of hours during the week, especially through the winter when it’s cold and you still need to dive 100 times a day.

“It’s one for me and the goalie coach.”

Better than his World Cup final save?

When asked where the save ranks among the best of his career, Martinez said he cannot put it above the stop he made from France's Randal Kolo Muani in the dying seconds of the FIFA World Cup final that Argentina went on to win. 

“It [Forest save] would rank first if we’d have won the game," he said. “The World Cup save has to be up there as the best I’ve ever done because of the time and technique, but this one is up there as well.

“The reaction time and the fact I grabbed it and dug it back into play. Sometimes it helps to win the game but unfortunately it didn’t. It’s a bittersweet save.”

Is Martinez's save the best ever?

Martinez's save drew praise from people across the footballing world, with some claiming it's the best they've ever seen. 

Nuno Espirito Santo, Forest head coach and a former goalkeeper: "Big save. It was remarkable. That is not about anything, it is pure instinct. Reflex. It's amazing. I wish I had [the] quality to do that once, but I didn't!"

Jamie Redknapp, former Liverpool midfielder: “I can't think of a better Premier League save in my life. We talk about the Pele one from Gordon Banks. Somehow he saved it. It's almost like a magician, sleight of hand. That is truly sensational.”

Marc Albrighton, PL title-winner with Leicester City: "He is not even facing the right way and manages to claw it away. I honestly can't believe it. It is centimetres from going in, that is incredible. That is one of the best I've seen."

Lee Hendrie, former Villa midfielder: “The save is world-class. I just think the pace of the ball and everything. Phenomenal.”

Rob Green, former goalkeeper: "It’s incredible. You could ask him how he saved it - he doesn’t know! It’s just instinct. He’s in a brilliant, set position. His feet are level and on the ground, his hands are out in front of him - it seems an obvious thing but if you can’t see your hands, you can’t track your hand to the ball. It’s incredible reactions but what he’s done within the space of a fraction of a second is got the basics perfectly right. To have your hands up and set, your feet square up the pitch, gives him all the time he can be afforded. It’s an incredible bit of goalkeeping. Everyone’s saying it’s wonderful reactions, but it’s brilliant basics as well."

Martinez wins December's award after votes from the public were combined with those of a panel of experts, topping a shortlist of six stunning saves by goalkeepers across the month.

It is the first time Martinez has won a Premier League Save of the Month award since it was introduced in 2022/23. 

2024/25 Save of the Month winners

August: David Raya (Arsenal)
September: Andre Onana (Man Utd)
October: Robert Sanchez (Chelsea)
November: Andre Onana (Man Utd)
December: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)