Emiliano Martinez’s WC gloves raise $45,000 for child cancer hospital

• Emiliano Martinez’s WC gloves raise $45,000 for a child cancer hospital.
• Martinez participated in the online auction on Friday.
• The Argentine Pediatric Fund posted on Instagram.

In order to raise money for a children’s cancer hospital, the goalkeeper Emiliano “Dibu” Martinez of Argentina’s gloves from the tense penalty shootout with France in Qatar’s World Cup final last year were auctioned off on Friday for $45,000.

The Argentine Pediatric Fund posted on Instagram, “$45,000 for the Dibu gloves to help the Garrahan boys!” referring to the oncology unit of the Garrahan Hospital, the primary pediatric hospital in Argentina.

Martinez participated in the online auction on Friday by way of a video hookup from his home in England, where he plays for Aston Villa.

Martinez wore the gloves as he competed in the penalty shootout against France in the championship game in Qatar, which Argentina won 4-2, giving Lionel Messi’s squad the title after the teams were tied 3-3 after extra time.

Emiliano Martinez said, “When they gave me the option to donate the World Cup gloves, I didn’t hesitate, it’s a good cause for the boys,”

When the donation was announced in February, Martinez signed the gloves’ interior.

He added, “The World Cup finals are not played every day, (the gloves) are special. But it helps a child much more than me having them hanging in a frame in my house.”

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