Emiliano Martínez Trains With Volleyballs Before June 16 Algeria Opener
Emiliano Martínez trained with volleyballs as he worked back from a fractured ring finger on his right hand, a clear sign Argentina is protecting its starting goalkeeper before the World Cup 2026 opener against Algeria. The 33-year-old is targeting Tuesday, June 16, at Kansas City Stadium, where his availability shapes the first big selection call of the tournament.
Volleyballs in Martínez training
He did the recent sessions with volleyballs because they are softer and lighter than soccer balls. He also avoided using his right hand to push himself up after diving during exercises, adjusting the work so the finger would not take unnecessary contact.
One report described the setup this way: “Está entrenando con pelotas de vóley. Son pelotas de vóley. De la cintura para arriba, tuvo que rechazar la oficial. No apareció el bombazo con la Trionda (balón oficial del Mundial 2026)”. That detail fits what Argentina needed most from the session: controlled work, not a full return to regular ball handling.
Pablo Capuchetti watches 45 minutes
On Saturday, Martínez trained for 45 minutes under the direct supervision of Pablo Capuchetti. During that session, he embraced the Argentina team kinesiologist and said, “Tengo al mejor fisio.” Earlier, when asked about his condition, he repeated, “Estamos bien, estamos bien.”
The recovery started after the fracture in the ring finger of his right hand, which came before the Europa League final against Friburgo. He played the full match anyway and then celebrated an Aston Villa title before beginning rehabilitation. That sequence explains why this is not just a routine training note; Argentina is managing a goalkeeper who kept playing through the injury and is now being eased back with the tournament opener close.
Argentina’s goalkeeping choice
Argentina still has Gerónimo Rulli and Juan Musso as alternative goalkeeping options, but Martínez’s presence as a starter on Tuesday, June 16, is described as almost a fact. That leaves the staff with a narrow task: keep the finger stable while getting him through the final stretch before Algeria.
For the defending champions, three years and a half after Qatar, the practical answer is already taking shape in training. Martínez is working, not sitting out, and the ball in his hands is still lighter than the one he will eventually need to face in Kansas City Stadium.
