Emiliano Martínez

Emiliano Martínez is in Argentina's preliminary squad for the 2026 World Cup, named by Lionel Scaloni in the 55-man list submitted in May 2026. The Aston Villa goalkeeper is 33 at kick-off and brings 59 senior Argentina caps into the preliminary squad picture, with the FIFA World Cup Golden Glove from Qatar 2022 — where Argentina defeated France in the final — alongside two Yashin Trophy honours from 2023 and 2024 already on his record.

Argentina face Algeria, Austria and Jordan in Group J, opening against Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on 16 June. Scaloni's side qualified by winning the CONMEBOL round-robin on 25 March 2025, and Martínez is listed among the goalkeeper options on the preliminary list.

Martínez is described as one of the best goalkeepers in the world — a penalty-shoot-out specialist with two Yashin Trophies and two FIFA Best Goalkeeper awards. Shot-stopping and command of his area sit alongside the cold reads of a shoot-out as the headline traits.

The shoot-out specialism has shown up at World Cup level under Scaloni, with saves in both knockout rounds of the Qatar 2022 trophy run. In Scaloni's 4-3-3 his 59 caps anchor the goalkeeper line on the preliminary squad sheet.

Argentina sit in Tier 1 at £32m within the game's £200m card budget — the premium top band. The Group J draw against Algeria, Austria and Jordan frames the early fixtures, with Scaloni's confirmed 4-3-3 and the CONMEBOL qualifying route behind the team-slot pick.

Martínez brings the £32m pick a goalkeeper profile built on 59 caps from the Escaloneta cycle, the Qatar 2022 Golden Glove, and shoot-out saves that mattered in both the quarter-final and final under Scaloni. For Argentina, that is proven tournament control at the back of a Tier 1 team.