Emiliano Martinez’s damaged finger, and how goalkeepers protect their hands

Emiliano Martinez broke his right ring finger in last May’s Europa League final, refused surgery to make Argentina ’s World Cup, and accepts his hand will never be the same. Speaking on journalist Gaston Edul’s YouTube channel, the 34-year-old recalled training one armed to dodge agony and said, “I put my hand down and I’d see stars”, calling his finger “like a blood sausage”.

He moved to Chelsea this summer and played every minute of the tournament, Lionel Scaloni’s side reaching the final before losing to a Ferran Torres goal in extra time. He is still playing in pain and rated the broken jaw he suffered against Everton in mid-October as one compared to the finger.

For keepers, such damage is routine. Hand specialist Mike Hayton lists dislocations, fracture-dislocations, fingertip mallet injuries and torn thumb ligaments among the regular toll, while elite shots can exceed 100 km/h and gloves do not spare fingers the load. Preparation and protection matter.

Former goalkeeper and coach Matt Pyzdrowski advocates full body strength, grip work and impact training to harden wrists and fingers, while many professionals tape digits and wrists for stability. Some gloves use Finger Save spines, others prefer a lighter feel for better touch. Buddy taping is common after fractures or dislocations, and bespoke gloves can even house two fingers in one slot.

Southampton’s Aaron Ramsdale returned in about five weeks post-surgery on a broken finger, with three tiny screws in his middle knuckle and a custom fit. Even so, goalkeepers often play through pain unless surgery is unavoidable, and long careers can leave joints unstable or arthritic.

As Martinez put it, the risks for the national team were worth it, and he would do it again. “Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.” View publisher imprint