Aston Villa and Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has revealed he has been in pain "every day" at the World Cup after fracturing his ring finger before the tournament. The 33-year-old sustained the injury on May 20 during his warm-up ahead of Villa's 3-0 Europa League final victory over Freiburg in Istanbul.
Injury Details and Surgery Decision
Martinez strapped his finger to play in the Europa League final but was then ruled out for up to a month. He missed the final day 2-1 Premier League win at Manchester City and Argentina's World Cup warm-up matches against Honduras and Iceland. Every surgeon he consulted suggested surgery, but he was determined to play for his country.
"My hand still hurts every day; I knew it was going to be extremely painful," Martinez said. "I avoided surgery, even though all the specialists I consulted in the United States and England told me I needed to have it. I couldn't train during the group stage, but from the Round of 16 onwards after Egypt, I stopped thinking about it, and I feel much better."
Coach's Support and Transfer Interest
Martinez revealed that Argentina's coach sent him a message before the World Cup saying, "No matter what state you're in, I want you on my team." Martinez added, "To me, that means more than saving ten penalties or making the front page of the newspaper. And if my moment doesn't come but we win the final, it will mean just as much."
Despite transfer interest from Juventus, Martinez's focus remains on Sunday's final against Spain in New Jersey, where Argentina aims to add a fourth star above their crest.
Reflections on World Cup Journey
Martinez was asked about a previous joke that he would retire if he ever won two World Cups. He said, "Yes, it was with Nico at the AFA training complex. But first we have to win; that’s the only thing I’m focused on. We’ve been improving year after year with this team. Sometimes I tear up just thinking about what we’ve achieved."
He added, "I’m enjoying this World Cup much more than the last one. I suffered a lot after the Saudi Arabia match in Qatar. I didn't face many shots, yet I conceded goals. I only played a decisive role during the penalty shootouts. I think I’m playing better with my feet now. I’ll step onto the pitch on Sunday, and you’ll see me smiling."
Goalkeeper's Role and Team Confidence
Martinez emphasized the importance of a goalkeeper's role beyond saves: "You have to come off your line and project confidence. These are footballing aspects that reassure my teammates; I need to show them I’m composed. When they see that, they - being such talented players - can focus on pushing forward. We’ve managed to score a lot of goals this World Cup, and so far, we’ve conceded one fewer than in the last tournament."
