Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez has revealed that he played through the entire 2026 World Cup—including a heroically resilient 11-save display in the final against Spain—with a broken finger, leaving him with permanent physical damage. Despite pulling off remarkable stops against the likes of Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, and Mikel Merino, Argentina ultimately suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat in the final.
During a recent video interview, the Aston Villa shot-stopper demonstrated the severe extent of the injury to his right hand, showing that he can no longer fully close his fist. His ring finger remains partially extended due to a dislocated bone that fused out of alignment. Confirming that the impairment is lifelong, Martínez lightheartedly remarked that he would never be able to deliver a proper punch again.
The initial fracture occurred in May 2026 during warm-ups ahead of Aston Villa’s Europa League final clash against Freiburg. Despite fracturing and dislocating his right ring finger moments before kick-off, Martínez played the full match, helping his side secure a 3-0 victory. Following the match, medical specialists recommended immediate surgery, warning that the bone would not set naturally without an operation and could compromise his long-term playing ability.
Faced with the prospect of missing the 2026 World Cup, Martínez refused surgical intervention to ensure he remained available for his country. Opting to manage the injury through conservative care, he followed tailored training programmes, underwent dedicated physiotherapy, and wore protective splints alongside modified gloves during the early stages of the tournament.
His gamble allowed him to feature throughout Argentina’s entire campaign, keeping clean sheets in the group stage before producing an extraordinary individual performance in the final. Whilst his refusal to undergo surgery preserved his dream of representing Argentina on the global stage, it has left the shot-stopper with an indelible physical legacy on his dominant hand.
