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Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has reassured Tango fans of his right finger injury, stressing that he will be ready to play and train normally in next Saturday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 32 match against Cape Verde, despite missing his first goal of the tournament against Jordan yesterday (3-1) which was recovered with a finger injury.
Martinez, nicknamed “Debo”, said in his statements to the media after the meeting. “I’m constantly improving… It’s clear that conceding or not conceding a goal is not the same, but the feeling is great.”
He added: “I haven’t been able to train for a long time and playing matches is the best thing I can do to improve. I think I will be able to play normally and train in the next game.”
The Aston Villa goalkeeper has been suffering from a broken right ring finger since last May’s Europa League final against Aston Villa, which has forced him to play in a brace and follow a modified training program so far at the World Cup.
Despite the injury, Martinez led Argentina to the last 32 of the tournament, but he conceded his first World Cup goal against Jordan last night in a game that ended in a 3-0-1 victory for the Albiceleste.
Next Saturday’s match against Cape Verde is indeed crucial for defending champions Argentina’s bid to defend their world crown, especially with Martinez confirming he is fully fit for the challenge, giving coach Lionel Scaloni a strong morale boost ahead of the crucial match.
Martinez is considered one of the mainstays of Argentina’s national team, having played a key role in winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the 2021 Copa America “Tango” thanks to his decisive save in the penalty shootout, making his full recovery a priority for Argentina’s technical staff.
