Emi Martínez : the kid who stops time Netflix May 2026
May 28, 2026. That's the date Netflix drops what might be one of the most anticipated sports documentaries ahead of the FIFA World Cup. Emi Martínez : The Kid Who Stops Time lands on the platform in a matter of days, and if you follow Argentine football — or simply enjoy well-crafted sports storytelling — this one deserves your attention.
What the documentary is actually about
This Netflix Original traces the full arc of Emiliano "Emi" Martínez's journey, from a kid dreaming of professional football in Argentina to becoming one of the most decisive goalkeepers on the planet. The story builds toward a single, defining moment : the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where Martínez made a stunning penalty-shootout save that kept Argentina alive against France in the final.
That save, replayed millions of times since December 18, 2022, is almost cinematic on its own. The documentary gives it the full treatment it deserves.
What makes this project stand out from the usual archive-and-interview format is its creative approach. Animated sequences by Ricardo Liniers run throughout the film, inspired by a short story called "The Kid Who Stops Time" written by Hernán Casciari. The story follows a boy who discovers he can argue with footballs and literally freeze time — a metaphor that maps surprisingly well onto what Martínez does between the posts.
On top of the animation, the documentary blends archival footage with candid interviews. Among the voices featured :
- Lionel Messi, Martínez's World Cup-winning teammate
- Lionel Scaloni, head coach of the Argentine national team
- Miguel Ángel "Pepé" Santoro, one of Argentina's most legendary goalkeepers
- Susana Romero, Emi Martínez's mother
That combination — animation, archive, and personal testimony — gives the film a texture you don't often see in sports documentaries. It's not just a career retrospective. It's a portrait.
Who's behind the production
The documentary is directed by Gustavo Cova, with Andrés Emilio serving as showrunner. Sergio Ferraro and Alejandro Greco handle executive production. The project comes from PEGSA, an Argentine production company that already worked with Netflix on a documentary about Ángel Di María — so this team knows how to tell Argentine football stories for a global audience.
It's worth noting the timing here. Netflix is releasing this documentary just weeks before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. That's not a coincidence. The platform has been steadily building its sports content catalogue ahead of what will be the largest World Cup in history, with 48 teams competing for the first time.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Title | Emi Martínez : The Kid Who Stops Time |
| Release date | May 28, 2026 |
| Platform | Netflix (global) |
| Director | Gustavo Cova |
| Production company | PEGSA (Argentina) |
| Type | Netflix Original sports documentary |
Netflix has already released an official trailer for the documentary, giving a first look at the animation style and the interview format. We keep track of release dates across all major streaming platforms, and this one has been on our radar for a while — it's confirmed global, meaning no regional delays to worry about.
Why Emi Martínez makes sense as a documentary subject right now
Emi Martínez plays for Aston Villa in the Premier League, where he has established himself as one of the top goalkeepers in English football over the past several seasons. But his global recognition exploded after Qatar 2022. His psychological approach to penalty shootouts — deliberately disruptive, calculated, and theatrical — became as talked-about as the saves themselves.
He was awarded the Yashin Trophy in 2023, the prize given to the best goalkeeper in the world each year. That recognition confirmed what many had seen in Qatar : this is not just a goalkeeper who reacts well, but one who shapes the game mentally before the ball is even struck.
Releasing a documentary on him now, with a World Cup weeks away and Argentina entering as defending champions, makes complete editorial sense. Whether Martínez will feature heavily in the 2026 tournament remains to be seen, but his story — and the 2022 final — will be on everyone's mind regardless.
If you're tracking what's coming to Netflix this spring, this sits alongside other high-profile releases worth watching. For instance, if thriller content is more your style, Bill Skarsgård's Netflix thriller Dead Man's Wire also has a confirmed premiere date around the same period.
What to expect when you press play on May 28
Don't go in expecting a standard "rise to glory" structure. The animation sequences inspired by Casciari's short story give the documentary an imaginative layer that sets it apart. The blend of fantasy and biography is unusual for the genre — and that's precisely what makes it worth watching beyond the football itself.
Martínez's mother Susana Romero appears on screen, which suggests the documentary digs into his early years and family background with genuine depth, not just surface-level context. That personal dimension, combined with testimony from Messi and Scaloni, should make the 2022 World Cup sequences hit differently than any highlight reel you've already seen.
Mark May 28 in your calendar. This Argentine Netflix Original is shaping up to be one of the strongest sports documentaries of the year — and we'll have it fully tracked the moment it's live on the platform.