Martinez plays on in pain, surgery still needed

Emi Martinez has disclosed that he wept every night after an X‑ray showed a serious finger fracture that he feared would keep him out of the World Cup.

The Chelsea goalkeeper reached his second consecutive final with Argentina this past summer, only to lose 1‑0 to Spain after extra time.

He almost did not travel with Lionel Scaloni’s side because the break occurred in Aston Villa’s Europa League final triumph over Freiburg.

The 34‑year‑old was convinced he would miss the World Cup, but national team coach Lionel Scaloni offered his backing.

A specially modified Adidas glove was produced so Martinez could compete in the tournament.

He decided against surgery, remains in daily pain and will still need an operation months after the World Cup.

In an interview with Los Edul, the Albiceleste hero demonstrated a clenched fist that could not close the broken finger and said his hand will stay disfigured for life.

“When the doctor showed me the X‑ray, I started crying because I thought I would miss the World Cup,” he said, adding that Scaloni messaged, “Whether you make it or not, I’ll back you… come anyway.”

He explained that he felt only four fingers, trained with volleyballs until the Switzerland game and rated the impact “ten out of ten”, describing himself as “practically a zombie”.

Recovery and future surgery

Every time his hand touched the ground he saw stars and cried until midnight as the swollen finger resembled a blood sausage.

After the World Cup another X‑ray confirmed the finger was still broken in half; he continues to play through pain and will eventually need surgery.

After the tournament Martinez secured a £7.5 million move to Chelsea, quickly usurping Robert Sanchez as the Blues’ number one, with the Spaniard sent on loan to Como.

He made six appearances for the west London side before suffering a broken jaw against Everton a fortnight ago.

Since then he has remained out of action, undergone surgery, and Belgian stopper Mike Penders has stepped up in his absence.