According to reports by ESPN on Sunday November 1, 2026, Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez has opened up about the lasting effects of a serious finger injury, revealing that his right hand will never completely return to normal.

The Argentina international demonstrated the problem during an interview, showing how he struggles to close his right hand into a fist because one of his fingers no longer bends properly.

Martínez sustained the injury in May 2026 while preparing for Aston Villa’s Europa League final against Freiburg. Although he completed the match, medical examinations later revealed that he had fractured his ring finger.

The injury initially threatened his participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Argentina. However, Martínez decided against undergoing surgery because the recovery period would have ruled him out of the tournament.

With the support of Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni and the national team's medical staff, he continued playing with protection around the injured finger. Adidas also produced a specially designed glove to help him manage the problem during matches.

Speaking about the consequences of that decision, Martínez explained that surgery could have allowed the finger to recover normally, but postponing the operation had left him with permanent limitations.

The goalkeeper revealed that he can no longer fully close his right hand and continues to experience pain. He also admitted that he will eventually need an operation, although the damage means his finger may never return to its original condition.

The injury affected his preparations for the World Cup, with Martínez explaining that he struggled to train normally and had to adjust some of his goalkeeping activities. He described the experience as extremely painful but maintained that he would make the same decision again because representing Argentina was important to him.

The problem also affected his future at club level. Martínez revealed that a proposed move to an Italian club collapsed after further medical examinations showed that the finger had been fractured again.

Chelsea eventually signed him from Aston Villa, with the goalkeeper explaining that the London club accepted his condition and allowed him to continue playing.

His finger injury is separate from the more recent jaw problem that has also kept him out of action. Martínez suffered a fractured jaw during Chelsea's match against Everton and required medical treatment.