Locals came to the rescue of Argentina and Aston Villa star Emi Martínez after his pickup truck became bogged down in thick mud.
The goalkeeper was enjoying some downtime in his hometown of Mar del Plata, Argentina, after the 2026 World Cup and ahead of his return to Birmingham.
Heavy rain had left the rural roads around nearby Sierra de los Padres almost impassable on Saturday (26 July).
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Martínez, nicknamed “Dibu” in Argentina, had been trying to help a friend whose pickup had become stuck in the mud – only to end up stranded himself.
Leonardo Albarracín and his son Ramiro had been riding motorbikes around the area when they immediately recognised the 33-year-old.
Leonardo told local media: “We went out on our motorbikes because it had rained so heavily and the roads were impassable.
“We saw two pickup trucks in the distance and a very tall figure. My son said, ‘Dad, that’s Dibu.’ I couldn’t believe it was really him.”
Martínez explained what had happened and asked the pair to help untie the tow straps they had been using to pull the vehicles free.
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Leonardo recalled: “He asked if we had a knife because they couldn’t undo the knots. I had a pocket knife with me, so I jumped straight into the mud to try to free them.”
The father and son also fetched a shovel and another tow strap, while more locals joined the rescue effort, as reported by Whats The Jam.
Martínez even drove to his nearby farm to collect a small tractor which, after more than three hours of work, finally helped pull both pickup trucks free.
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Leonardo said: “Dibu is an incredible person. We didn’t talk about the World Cup or football at all. It was just the sort of conversation you could have with any neighbour.
“Dibu’s friendliness and humility really stand out. It was an incredible adventure to share with my family. Even if we’d planned it, it couldn’t have turned out any better.
“Before he left, he thanked us in every possible way and told us we’d saved him. Just imagine what it means to hear that from someone who’s brought so much joy to all Argentinians.”
During the rescue, Leonardo went home to fetch an Argentina shirt and some marker pens in the hope of getting an autograph from the 2022 World Cup winner.
But Martínez went one step further.
“As he was about to leave, he stopped, took off his official Argentina jacket and gave it to me,” Leonardo said.
“That’s when I couldn’t hold it together. I burst into tears. It was an unforgettable moment.”
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