Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez admitted on Friday that he has been playing through pain in his right hand since the start of the 2026 World Cup, after choosing to forgo a recommended operation. “It still hurts every day. I knew it was going to hurt a lot. I avoided surgery,” he said.

All specialists insisted surgery was necessary for him to play, but Martínez opted to continue. The injury—a fractured ring finger—occurred on May 20 while warming up for the Europa League final between Aston Villa and Freiburg.

The break forced him to train separately during the group stage, missing joint sessions with Argentina’s squad. By the time the team faced Egypt, he had resumed normal training and felt better. Despite the setback, he has started every match and kept two clean sheets, including a 3‑0 win over Algeria and a 2‑0 victory over Austria.

With the final set for Sunday at Met Life Stadium in New Jersey, Martínez will again appear in his second consecutive World Cup final, after Argentina’s 2022 triumph over France.