Lautaro Martinez decisive for Argentina at the World Cup, redemption and a dream realised | OneFootball

Lautaro Martinez finally delivered for Argentina at a World Cup, ending his drought and reshaping his campaign. L'Équipe highlights Lionel Scaloni's management and a close-knit group behind the revival.

In the last 16 he and Gonzalo Montiel came on to score the second and third in a 3-2 win over Egypt. He then sealed a 3-1 quarter-final against Switzerland after extra time, before a stoppage-time header beat England 2-1 to set up Spain on Sunday.

In the United States he started the first four games but struggled, scoring only a penalty in a rotated 3-1 win over Jordan, then losing his place to Julian Alvarez from the last 16.

It echoed 2022, when he started two before ceding to Alvarez, who struck four in five. Scaloni said dropping Italy's top scorer was hard and praised Martinez's decisive cameos and professionalism.

Post-match he said the moment fulfilled a childhood dream born when his father bought his first boots. He dedicated it to his mother, recalling that since joining Racing at 16 she still made his bed on matchdays.

The World Cup had long weighed on him, despite 40 goals in 84 caps that rank him fourth for Argentina behind Lionel Messi, Gabriel Batistuta and Sergio Agüero. He once struggled in the Champions League too, even while finishing Serie A's top scorer in 2023-2024 and 2025-2026.

Now 28 and a father, he said his children have changed his life. He told team-mates Alexis Mac Allister and Facu Medina he would come on and decide the game. Whatever happens on Sunday, his mark on this run is clear.

Source: L'Équipe