Emiliano Martínez is making the final adjustments in his rehabilitation after suffering a fracture in the ring finger of his right hand, with the Argentina goalkeeper aiming to start on Tuesday, June 16, against Algeria in Kansas City at the opening of the 2026 World Cup. Although Martínez has repeatedly said he is fine, Argentina’s coaching staff has carefully managed his workload to avoid setbacks and to ensure he arrives in the best possible condition for the national team’s debut.
During recent training sessions, the Aston Villa keeper has been working with volleyballs instead of official match balls for several exercises. The softer and lighter balls have allowed him to continue training while limiting stress on the injured hand. According to ESPN reporter Diego Monroig, Martínez has been rejecting volleyballs rather than the World Cup’s official Trionda ball in upper-body drills. Infobae also observed that in each movement on the ground, Martínez avoided using his right hand to push himself up, relying instead on his left hand to protect the affected area. Over time, the intensity of his work has increased, and he has begun making saves with both hands again.
There is still a plan in place to reduce risk before kickoff. If the finger causes discomfort, the possibility of an injection has not been ruled out, although no final decision has been made. Martínez has also been training with the ring finger and little finger taped together and with additional support on the injured finger beneath his glove. The team expects to make a final assessment during the last training session before the match to determine how much strain he can handle.
The 33-year-old from Mar del Plata has remained upbeat throughout the process, telling reporters several times that he and the team are “fine,” while offering thumbs-up and clenched-fist gestures to signal confidence. During a 45-minute session on Saturday, he worked under the close supervision of Pablo Capuchetti, the Argentine national team’s physiotherapist, who stayed near him throughout the practice. Martínez even embraced Capuchetti and praised him publicly, saying he had “the best physio.”
The injury happened before Aston Villa’s Europa League final against Freiburg, but Martínez still played the full match and celebrated the title before beginning a strict recovery plan to be ready for the tournament. Argentina, the reigning World Cup champion after winning in Qatar three years ago, sees Martínez as its first-choice goalkeeper for the opener. Gerónimo Rulli and Juan Musso are available as alternatives, but Martínez is expected to keep the starting role if his recovery continues as planned.
His rehabilitation has also prompted special logistical work at the AFA training center in Ezeiza. In response to the injury and the team’s upcoming trip to Kansas City, AFA officials arranged additional support materials designed to protect finger joints during competition and recovery. That preparation became part of the broader effort to ensure Martínez reaches the match fit and ready to lead Argentina from goal on June 16.
