Argentina’s bid for a second consecutive World Cup title was jolted in the 43rd minute of the final against Spain when centre-back Lisandro Martínez collapsed to the turf and signalled he could not continue. With the score still goalless at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the Manchester United defender was replaced by Nicolás Otamendi, burning one of Lionel Scaloni’s substitutions before the interval.

The sequence began three minutes earlier. A misplaced backward pass from Rodrigo De Paul was intercepted by Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal, forcing Martínez to sprint out of position and commit a tactical foul that earned him the first yellow card of the match. Replays showed the 28-year-old rising gingerly, avoiding weight on his right leg. Argentine medical staff later indicated a muscular injury, with early reports from Buenos Aires suggesting damage to the adductor or quadriceps. He had been carrying a knock in the days leading up to the final, according to South American media.

Martínez left the pitch in visible distress, tears streaming as he took his place on the bench. He had been one of Argentina’s most assured performers during the tournament, repeatedly breaking up Spanish attacks with anticipation and clean interventions. His departure was freighted with symbolism: Otamendi, the veteran who replaced him, returned to the same stadium where, a decade earlier, Lionel Messi had announced his international retirement after a Copa América final defeat. Now both were on the pitch together in a World Cup showpiece, but the circumstances were far from what Scaloni had planned.

The disruption did not end there. Early in the second half, right-back Gonzalo Montiel was substituted for Nahuel Molina, and by the 68th minute Cristian Romero – Martínez’s partner in central defence – also signalled he could not go on, forcing the introduction of Facundo Medina. In the space of an hour, Argentina had lost their entire first-choice back line, leaving Otamendi as the sole survivor from the original defensive unit.

Viewed from European press boxes, the cascade of injuries left Argentina dangerously exposed against a Spanish side chasing a first world title since 2010. Scaloni had already used all five substitution windows by the final whistle, his tactical options exhausted. The final, poised at 0-0 when Martínez went down, now hinged on whether a patched-together defence could withstand the pressure of a team unbeaten in 37 matches.