The Argentina national football team faces an unexpected selection dilemma on the eve of the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to a hand injury sustained by their first-choice goalkeeper, Emiliano Martínez. The team’s medical and coaching staff are closely monitoring the fitness of the Aston Villa player.
Although the team management remains optimistic that Martínez may recover in time to feature in Argentina’s opening World Cup group stage match against Algeria, his availability is not completely guaranteed. Consequently, two upcoming international friendly matches will serve as a selection platform to determine his immediate deputy, with Gerónimo Rulli and Juan Musso competing for the role.
Technical Comparison of Selection Candidates
Statistical data indicates that Gerónimo Rulli is the frontrunner to step in should Martínez be ruled out. The 34-year-old goalkeeper, who currently plays his club football for French Ligue 1 side Marseille, has earned seven official senior caps for Argentina. Crucially, the national team has never suffered a defeat with Rulli on the pitch, conceding only two goals during his international appearances.
Rulli’s most recent international start occurred in November 2024 during a CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier against Peru, which Argentina won 1–0. Furthermore, Rulli possessed a squad role during Argentina’s successful campaigns at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the 2022 Finalissima, and the 2024 Copa América. During the domestic season, Rulli made 39 appearances for Marseille across all competitions, conceding 52 goals as his club secured a fifth-place finish in Ligue 1.
Conversely, Atlético Madrid’s Juan Musso offers a compelling alternative due to his recent club form. Although Musso did not enjoy regular playing time for the majority of the season, a late-season injury to Atlético’s primary goalkeeper, Jan Oblak, allowed him to assume the starting role. Musso utilised this opportunity to deliver several high-quality performances, which proved vital in guiding Atlético Madrid to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.
Musso’s form in 2026 has been particularly notable, featuring in 12 matches for his club and securing multiple man-of-the-match accolades. For the national team, Musso has accumulated three official caps, though his minutes have been fragmented across friendly fixtures and competitive matches.
Comparative International Career Data
| Goalkeeper | Official Caps | Goals Conceded | Notable International Appearances |
| Gerónimo Rulli | 7 | 2 | 1–0 win vs Peru (Nov 2024), Member of 2022 World Cup & 2024 Copa América squads |
| Juan Musso | 3 | 0 | 1–0 win vs Morocco (2019, 23 mins), 3–0 win vs Bolivia (2021, 90 mins), 5–0 win vs Zambia (2026, 16 mins) |
Upcoming Preparatory Fixtures
The hierarchy of the backup goalkeeping position remains highly contested. Whilst Rulli holds an advantage in terms of tournament experience and overall clean sheets for the national team, Musso’s recent club displays in the Champions League present a strong case to the coaching staff.
Manager Lionel Scaloni is expected to use the friendly matches against Honduras on 6 June and Iceland on 9 June to assess both players under match conditions. Whichever player performs best will be tasked with stepping in should Martínez fail to prove his fitness ahead of the competitive matches. Regardless of the outcome of these friendlies, the coaching staff has clarified that Martínez remains the undisputed number-one choice once fully recovered.