Gilberto Martínez
A rock-solid Costa Rican defender who became a World Cup mainstay and his nation's most-capped player for over a decade.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Costa Rican footballer·Birthday: October 1·Generation X
Biography
Gilberto Martínez's career was built on consistency, toughness, and a quiet professionalism that made him a fixture at the heart of Costa Rican defense for a generation. Emerging from Deportivo Saprissa, his tenacity soon earned him a move to Europe, where he spent the majority of his career in Italy's Serie A with Brescia and later Sampdoria and Roma, a rare path for a Central American defender. Nicknamed 'El Tuma' after his hometown, he wasn't a flashy player but a reliable one, known for his marking, positioning, and uncompromising tackles. His international career defined him. From his 2001 debut, he became an automatic selection, leading the backline in the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups. In 2009, he surpassed the appearance record of his mentor, Luis Marín, becoming Costa Rica's most-capped player—a record he held until 2015. His career wound down with spells in Greece and a return to Saprissa, closing the loop on a journey that took a kid from Santa Cruz to the world's biggest stages.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Gilberto was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Gilberto Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Gilberto's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the all-time most-capped player for the Costa Rica national team in 2009, holding the record until 2015.
- Played in two FIFA World Cup tournaments (2002 and 2006), starting key matches in both.
- Had a significant European club career, playing several seasons in Italy's Serie A for Brescia and Sampdoria.
- Won multiple Costa Rican league titles with Deportivo Saprissa at the start and end of his career.
Did You Know?
His nickname, 'El Tuma', refers to his birthplace, Santa Cruz de la Tuma.
He played alongside Italian legend Roberto Baggio during his time at Brescia.
Despite being a defender, he scored his only international goal in a 2005 friendly against Cuba.
“My job is simple: defend our goal with everything I have, every match.”
