Emiliano Martinez has been passed fit to start Argentina’s World Cup opener against Algeria, nearly four weeks after breaking his finger in the Europa League final warm-up.
- Journalist Gastón Edul reports Martinez will start against Algeria in Kansas City on Tuesday
- The Villa goalkeeper passed the necessary medical tests, but will still play with his finger protected
- ESPN confirm Martinez trained with both gloves in Thursday’s session: a significant fitness milestone
- Leandro Paredes also returns from a hamstring issue, while Leonardo Balerdi misses out with a calf injury
The remarkable recovery. From broken finger to World Cup opener
The story of Emiliano Martinez‘s fitness journey over the past four weeks is one of the most compelling individual narratives surrounding the 2026 World Cup. On 20 May, the Villa goalkeeper broke his finger during the warm-up before the Europa League final against Freiburg in Istanbul. Rather than withdrawing from the biggest game of his club career, Martinez strapped up the injury, stepped onto the Beşiktaş Park pitch, and delivered a commanding performance across 90 minutes as Villa lifted the trophy for the first time in 30 years.
Subsequently, he sat out Villa’s final Premier League fixture against Manchester City, a precautionary decision that allowed the initial recovery process to begin. Furthermore, Martinez missed Argentina’s two World Cup warm-up fixtures against Honduras and Iceland, giving backup goalkeepers Juan Musso and Geronimo Rulli the opportunity to accumulate minutes while their first-choice recovered carefully. Consequently, both alternatives head into Tuesday’s opener knowing their place on the bench is entirely expected rather than earned through a performance gap.
The medical clearance. Thursday’s training session was key
The specific development that has confirmed Martinez’s readiness is Thursday’s Argentina training session. According to ESPN, the 33-year-old trained with both gloves for the first time: a milestone that directly contradicts the adapted one-glove routine he had been following in earlier sessions as the finger healed. Moreover, Gastón Edul (the Argentine journalist with the strongest track record on Martinez-related news throughout the summer) has specifically reported that the goalkeeper will start against Algeria in Kansas City.
Nevertheless, Martinez will still play with his finger protected throughout the tournament. That specific precaution is entirely sensible given the physical demands of goalkeeping and will not restrict his performance in any meaningful way. His technique, positioning, distribution and shot-stopping are not dependent on one fully healed finger. As Villa supporters witnessed in Istanbul, he is more than capable of performing at the very highest level while managing physical discomfort.
Argentina’s broader fitness picture. Paredes in, Balerdi out
Additionally, the Argentina squad update brings further positive news alongside one setback. Leandro Paredes, the Boca Juniors midfielder who missed the Honduras and Iceland friendlies with a hamstring issue is also expected to be available for Tuesday’s opener. His return gives Lionel Scaloni greater midfield depth and experience for the tournament’s opening fixture.
However, by contrast, Marseille defender Leonardo Balerdi will miss the Algeria game with a calf injury a more significant blow to Scaloni’s defensive options. As a result, Tottenham Hotspur’s Marcos Senesi has been called up as a direct replacement, giving the new arrival an immediate opportunity to stake his claim in the defending champions’ squad.
The Juventus context. World Cup first, transfer later
The Martinez fitness update arrives against the backdrop of ongoing Juventus interest. Negotiations between the Turin club and Villa over a fee currently separated by a gap between Juventus’ €5m opening offer and Villa’s €15m asking price continue in the background. Nevertheless, Martinez’s focus is entirely on the football for the next four weeks. Argentina’s title defence begins in Kansas City on Tuesday. Everything else can wait.
ReadAstonVilla Verdict
Martinez playing through a broken finger in Istanbul was extraordinary. Martinez recovering in time to start Argentina’s World Cup opener is equally impressive. The man simply refuses to miss big occasions. Villa supporters will watch Tuesday’s game against Algeria with enormous pride and the quiet hope that their goalkeeper returns from North America still wearing claret and blue next season.
