Argentina goalkeeper ‘Dibu’ Martínez out for a month after jaw surgery

Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez is set to miss at least a month after undergoing surgery on Sunday for a fractured jaw he sustained during a Premier League match on Saturday.

Martínez was stretchered off during Chelsea’s game against Everton after colliding with two players while clearing a free kick midway through the second half.

The game was stopped for eight minutes while Martínez received medical assistance, but the player, who joined Chelsea this season after six seasons at Aston Villa, never lost consciousness and even gave the cameras a thumbs-up to let everyone in the stadium and watching at home know he was OK. 

However, subsequent hospital examinations revealed a fractured jaw that required surgery at a hospital in Liverpool.

Martínez later reassured his fans with a message on his Instagram account and celebrated Chelsea’s 2-0 victory.

“Thanks for all your messages,” he wrote. “Surgery went well. The important thing is we won and got a clean sheet. I’ll be back in a few weeks.”

The injury typically takes one to two months to heal fully, meaning Martínez is now set to miss the Argentine national team’s upcoming international games on November 13 and 17 against Uruguay and Costa Rica, respectively. 

The matches are scheduled to take place in Argentina at La Bombonera and the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Córdoba.

Messages from teammates Martínez’s Instagram post drew several messages of support from his Argentine national team and club teammates.

Leandro Paredes, Marcos Acuña and Guido Rodríguez were among the Qatar 2022 World Cup winners who sent him messages of support, as did several Chelsea players, including Ecuador’s Moisés Caicedo and Brazil’s João Pedro.

He also received a message from Argentine Football Association (AFA) president Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia, who wished him “a speedy recovery and all the strength in the world” in a post on his X account.

“A big hug from afar. I have no doubt that you’ll come back stronger than ever. I’m rooting for you all the way. I love you, buddy,” Tapia wrote.

Cover image: Chelsea FC