Emiliano Martínez and Nico Paz returned to Argentina training before the team’s World Cup 2026 opener against Algeria, easing injury concerns but not ending them.
Argentina received a timely fitness lift before its first World Cup 2026 match against Algeria, with goalkeeper Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez and midfielder Nico Paz both taking part in training in Kansas City without reported discomfort.
The update, reported by Varzesh3, gives Lionel Scaloni’s staff a more encouraging picture ahead of the opener, though one key decision remains unresolved: Martínez has not yet been confirmed as the starting goalkeeper because of the risk of aggravating his right hand injury.
Martínez, 33, is working his way back from a fracture to the ring finger on his right hand. He trained with both gloves for the second day in a row during an intense one-hour session focused on coordination, cognitive work and reflexes, and faced size-five balls as part of the goalkeeper drills.
There was still a visible reminder of the injury. Midway through the session, after removing his gloves, Martínez showed the plastic protector covering the finger. As he left the field, he raised his thumb and said, “We’re good, we’re good.”
That optimism has not yet translated into a final lineup call. Argentina’s coaching staff is still weighing the possibility of a recurrence or setback before deciding whether Martínez will start against Algeria.
The news was broader than Martínez alone. Paz, the left-footed Como midfielder, returned to group work after recovering from a bone crack sustained in a friendly against Iceland. Leandro Paredes, who had been dealing with a hamstring strain, and Julián Álvarez, who had been recovering from an ankle sprain, also trained alongside the rest of the squad.
Varzesh3, citing an Argentine football federation statement, reported that the players began with gym work before moving into tactical drills and small-sided games under Scaloni’s supervision.
The only player noted as working apart from the group was Nicolás Tagliafico, who trained individually with a physiotherapist because of tightness in the calf muscle of his left leg.
For Argentina, the final buildup now turns on how much risk the staff is prepared to accept in goal. Martínez’s return to full-looking training is a positive sign, but the decision on his role against Algeria remains pending.
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