The goalkeeper sustained the fracture during the warm-up before Aston Villa’s 3-0 victory over Freiburg in the Europa League final in May. He completed the match, but later discovered the extent of the damage when he underwent an examination in Birmingham.
Speaking to Argentine journalist Gastón Edul, Martínez recalled breaking down after seeing the images and fearing he would miss the tournament.
He said he initially believed the injury would prevent him from joining Argentina, but received reassurance from head coach Lionel Scaloni, who told him he would support him whether or not he was fit enough to travel.
The decision was ultimately made with Argentina’s medical staff not to operate. Martínez instead played with a plastic cast protecting the injured finger, while Adidas produced a specially adapted glove to help him manage the problem.
The protection allowed him to take part, but it did not remove the pain or restore normal movement. Martínez explained that he struggled to use his right hand when diving and getting back to his feet, with the injury affecting even routine movements during training.
“Before Algeria I was diving with one arm, diving like a zombie. If I put my hand down I was seeing stars. It was brutal. Every single night I was crying because my finger looked like a sausage.”
The goalkeeper said the injury remained a problem throughout the tournament, but he had no regrets about accepting the risk to represent his country.
“These are the risks you take for the national team, I’d do it again.”
After the World Cup, Martínez expected the finger to improve, but a further examination revealed that it had fractured again. He said the damage had left a permanent change, with the finger no longer bending properly, and that surgery would be necessary at some point.
“It will never go back to how it was. I am still playing with pain.”
The injury also affected his prospects in the transfer market. Juventus had been interested in signing him before Chelsea completed a £7.5 million move from Aston Villa in August, but Martínez said the condition of his finger contributed to a proposed transfer falling through.
He has since joined Chelsea on a three-year contract, but is currently sidelined after suffering a broken jaw in the victory over Everton earlier this month. The finger injury, however, remains a longer-term issue, with Martínez acknowledging that he will eventually need an operation.
The 34-year-old’s account offers a detailed explanation of the physical cost of his decision to play at the World Cup, and why the injury has continued to affect him months after Villa’s European triumph.