Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020
Emiliano Martínez injury concerns have eased at the right time for Argentina national football team as the goalkeeper prepares for their World Cup Round of 32 match against Cape Verde national football team in Miami.
Martínez had been managing a finger problem suffered before Aston Villa’s Europa League final against Freiburg, but he has since returned for Argentina and is expected to be ready for Friday’s knockout match.
For more World Cup knockout build-up, read World Cup Round of 32: Haaland, Mbappé And Mexico Headline High-Stakes Tuesday Slate, while official tournament updates are available through the FIFA World Cup 2026 page.
Martínez Pushes Through Fitness Worry
Martínez missed Argentina’s warm-up matches against Honduras and Iceland because of the finger issue, but he was passed fit for the group stage. He played as Argentina beat Algeria, Austria and Jordan to finish top of Group J with nine points.
The latest update around the goalkeeper is positive. Martínez said he can now play without finger protection against Cape Verde, a key boost for Lionel Scaloni before the pressure rises in sudden-death football.
“I can now play without a finger kit for the next game," Martinez said after Saturday's 3-1 win over Jordan.
“I decided not to have surgery, I had a bad time. I came here very prepared, I still haven’t trained with the group, always with [Martin] Tocalli (Argentina's goalkeeping coach).
“On the pitch, I try not to suffer. When they told me I had to have surgery, millions of questions came to me, but the coach (Lionel Scaloni) supported me. He told me no matter the game, he would always support me.”
Why His Role Still Matters
Argentina may have dominated Group J, but Martínez’s job will become harder now. Cape Verde are not carrying the same star power, yet their draw-heavy group campaign showed discipline, patience and belief.
For Argentina, Martínez is more than a shot-stopper. He directs the defensive line, controls the tempo from restarts and brings the calm that matters when knockout matches become messy.
Cape Verde are expected to defend deep and wait for moments on the counter. That means Martínez must stay sharp even if he has long spells without action.
Argentina have the stronger squad, but World Cup knockout football has already punished bigger names. If Martínez is fully comfortable with his finger, Argentina’s back line will feel far more settled in Miami.
