Emiliano Martinez Named in Argentina Squad as Chelsea Goalkeeper Returns to Training After Jaw Surgery

Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has been named in Argentina’s squad for the November international break, just weeks after surgery on a fractured jaw, after returning to team training in London on Wednesday 4 November 2026. The 34-year-old has not played since Chelsea’s 2-0 Premier League win over Everton on 17 October 2026, when a clash of heads with Jarrad Branthwaite left him with concussion and a fractured jaw.

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni included Martinez in a 28-man squad announced on Tuesday 3 November 2026 for friendlies against Uruguay in Buenos Aires on 13 November and Costa Rica in Córdoba on 17 November. Martinez himself has said he intends to travel, while stressing that whether he plays in either match will depend on how training goes during the week.

Emiliano Martinez — Quick Reference Summary

What the Argentina call-up actually confirms, and what it does not

Scaloni’s selection confirms that Martinez is back in Argentina’s plans for the November window, and Sports Mole reports that his inclusion suggests he is on the brink of a return to action. It does not, on its own, confirm that he is fit to start a match. Reports agree that he has yet to receive confirmed clearance to play, and that a protective face mask may be needed when he does return.

Martinez has also been candid about his recovery. Speaking to Argentine journalist Gaston Edul, he said he still cannot eat solid food and is living on puréed food for now. He added that he does not know whether he will be fit for the first or the second friendly, and that the decision will depend on training during the week.

Why Chelsea face a genuine selection call at Sunderland

Chelsea travel to Sunderland on Sunday 8 November 2026 for their final match before the international break, and head coach Xabi Alonso has not ruled out Martinez returning to the squad. That leaves a live decision rather than a formality. Martinez arrived from Aston Villa as Alonso’s first-choice goalkeeper, but his absence has given Mike Penders an extended run.

The case for patience is strong. Penders, 21, has conceded only one goal — from the penalty spot — across matches against Liverpool and Manchester United since a mistake against Tottenham Hotspur, according to Sports Mole. With a two-week international break immediately after Sunderland, Alonso has little reason to rush Martinez back into the starting side if the medical advice is cautious. Readers following Manchester United’s European week will recognise the same balancing act clubs face between a returning senior player and a deputy in form.

How the November window fits Argentina’s new chapter

The two friendlies are Argentina’s first squad since Lionel Messi retired from international football, after scoring in a 3-0 win over Benin in Buenos Aires last month to finish with 126 goals in 208 appearances. That context makes Scaloni’s goalkeeping choices matter more than usual, because the squad is beginning a new chapter without its former captain.

Martinez’s seniority is part of the story. Argentina’s 28-man squad also includes Enzo Fernández, Lisandro Martínez, Alexis Mac Allister and Julián Álvarez, alongside first-time Chelsea call-up Aaron Anselmino and returning winger Valentín Barco. Even if Martinez does not start either friendly, his presence in camp offers experience to a group adjusting to life after Messi.

What to watch between now and kick-off

Three checkpoints will settle this story. The first is Chelsea’s team news for Sunderland, which will show whether Martinez is in the squad at all. The second is whether he wears a protective mask in training or in a match, which would signal how far his jaw recovery has progressed. The third is Argentina’s training week before Uruguay, when Scaloni will have to decide whether Martinez, Rulli, Musso or Beltrán starts in Buenos Aires.

Until those checkpoints arrive, the honest position is narrow: Martinez is training again, he is in the squad, and he is not yet confirmed to play. Anything beyond that — a starting date, a mask decision, or a return to Chelsea’s first team — is not publicly verified and should not be presented as fact.

Frequently asked questions

Is Emiliano Martinez fit to play for Argentina? Not confirmed. He has returned to Chelsea training and been named in the squad, but no confirmed clearance to play has been reported, and Martinez himself says fitness for either friendly depends on training.

When did Martinez suffer the jaw injury? On 17 October 2026, during Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Everton, in a clash of heads with Jarrad Branthwaite. He underwent surgery and has not played since.

Will Martinez play against Sunderland on Sunday 8 November? Not publicly verified. Xabi Alonso has not ruled out a squad return, but no starting decision has been announced, and Mike Penders has performed well in his absence.

Who are Argentina’s other goalkeepers in the squad? Gerónimo Rulli, Juan Musso and Santiago Beltrán, alongside Martinez in the 28-man group.

When are Argentina’s November friendlies? Uruguay in Buenos Aires on 13 November 2026, followed by Costa Rica in Córdoba on 17 November 2026.