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Emiliano Martinez has revealed that he played through a broken finger during Aston Villa’s Europa League final victory over Freiburg. The Argentine goalkeeper is now in a race to regain full fitness for the World Cup after it was confirmed that he will not require surgery.

Martinez sustains finger fracture after Europa League final

Following Aston Villa’s 3-0 triumph against Freiburg in the Europa League final, Martinez disclosed that he had suffered a broken finger during the pre-match warm-up. Medical scans later confirmed a small fracture in the ring finger of his right hand, according to reports from TyC Sports.

There were initial concerns that the keeper might need surgery before Argentina’s World Cup campaign in North America. However, recent updates have brought relief to coach Lionel Scaloni and the reigning champions. Martinez is expected to avoid an operation, and his recovery period is estimated to be around 20 days.

Martinez speaks about enduring the pain

After Villa’s celebrations, Martinez opened up about the injury and admitted he had been coping with discomfort throughout the match. Speaking to ESPN, he said, “Today I broke my finger during warm-ups, but I didn’t think it was that serious. I’ve never broken a finger before, and every time I tried to catch the ball, the finger would move in the wrong direction. But these are the kinds of things you sometimes have to deal with.”

Argentina awaiting fitness update before World Cup opener

Although Martinez has avoided going under the knife, he is likely to miss Argentina’s final World Cup warm-up games. The Albiceleste are set to face Honduras on June 6 in Texas and Iceland on June 9 in Alabama. The 33-year-old will now focus on rehabilitation while being closely monitored by Argentina’s medical team.

Any setback in his recovery could force Scaloni to explore backup options before the tournament begins. Argentina will begin their title defence against Algeria on June 17 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. While the current timeline suggests Martinez could be available for selection, there are lingering worries about his match fitness heading into the competition.

Countdown begins as Argentina prepare for title defence

Argentina’s main concern now is ensuring Martinez’s full recovery before their World Cup opener. The goalkeeper has emerged as a key player for the national team, known for his composure and leadership in high-pressure situations. With Lionel Messi once again leading the squad, Scaloni will be hoping his first-choice keeper can return in time without any complications. Although Martinez may be ready for the Algeria clash, his progress in the next few weeks will be watched very carefully.