Emiliano Martínez broke a finger in warm-up — then starred as Villa won Europa League
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez revealed he broke a finger in the warm-up before the Europa League final but still played and helped Villa secure the trophy.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez revealed he fractured a finger during the warm-up before the Europa League final on 20 May 2026, yet went on to play and helped Villa secure the trophy. The revelation came after the final and adds a dramatic detail to Villa's European success.
Why it matters
A goalkeeper sustaining a broken finger in the warm-up and still starting a European final is significant for player welfare, squad selection and the club's medical reputation. It speaks to Martínez's resilience and raises questions about immediate treatment, on-the-day risk assessments and how Villa managed their goalkeeper decision ahead of the match.
What the report says
According to the BBC Sport report, Martínez revealed he broke a finger during the warm-up before the Europa League final. The report links that revelation to Villa's eventual win in the competition. The supplied metadata does not include the scoreline, match events, or further medical detail.
Immediate implications for Villa and Martínez
Playing with a broken finger in a major final could have short-term and longer-term implications for Martínez and for Villa's squad. The club's medical team will need to confirm the injury severity, any treatment undertaken immediately after the match, and what recovery timeline — if any — is required. The incident could also influence selection decisions in upcoming fixtures and how the club manages goalkeeper workload.
- Source: BBC Sport report stating Martínez broke a finger during the warm-up before the Europa League final.
- Martínez played in the final and Aston Villa won the Europa League (as reported).
- No specifics on which finger, scoreline, timing of the revelation, or medical follow-up are provided in the supplied metadata.
The information in this story is currently limited to the BBC Sport summary provided. For confirmed medical details, quotes, the match score and minute-by-minute context, check the full BBC article or official club statements before publication.
What happens next
Readers should expect updates from Aston Villa's medical staff or official club communications that clarify Martínez's injury and availability. Match reports and post-match interviews may also provide fuller context on how the injury occurred and how Martínez was able to perform during the final.