Undoubtedly, these are merely speculations. The forward himself expressed his sadness over the final outcome through his official Instagram account, saying he would have liked to have been on the pitch to help his teammates.

“We tried. For the second consecutive World Cup, we reached a World Cup final, but this time it wasn’t meant to be. I feel so proud to be Argentinian,” Martinez started. “I would have liked to try to help the team on the pitch yesterday, but that’s how it goes.

“Thank you to everyone who supported us throughout this World Cup, traveling thousands and thousands of kilometers to be close to us, and to all the people who stood behind us from every corner of our country.”

Lautaro Martinez’s World Cup journey

Lautaro Martinez delivered an impactful campaign for Argentina throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup, proving crucial to his team’s offensive strength with extreme self-confidence. The forward tallied three goals in the tournament, finding the back of the net in key fixtures against Jordan, Switzerland, and England.

On top of his goalscoring exploits, El Toro provided one assist, bringing his total contribution to four direct goal engagements during the competition. Unfortunately, the outcome was not the one Argentina expected, and it could mark the end of an era, including the potential departure of manager Lionel Scaloni.

Scaloni’s strategy didn’t pay off

It is clear that Enzo Fernandez’s sending-off after receiving a second yellow card changed Lionel Scaloni’s plans. However, the Spanish team had already shown its superiority from the start of the match, and justified the final result with greater possession and a dominant performance throughout the game.

Could Lautaro Martinez’s introduction have changed the course of the match? It is difficult to know. Down to 10 men, relying on a traditional penalty-box striker wasn’t the approach preferred by Scaloni, who ultimately subbed off Julian Alvarez to make room for Marcos Senesi, another defender, when the game was still level.

The reason Lautaro Martínez is not in Argentina’s starting lineup for today’s 2026 World Cup final against Spain is entirely tactical. Lionel Scaloni is trusting Julian Alvarez as the main man upfront for the defending champions. The lineups for Spain vs Argentina are confirmed.

Despite scoring a dramatic 92nd-minute winning header against England in the semifinals, Martinez will have to wait for his turn from the bench in the 2026 World Cup final. However, he is fully fit and healthy. For Spain, Nico Williams is not starting vs Argentina.

Is Julian Alvarez a better starting striker than Lautaro Martinez?

Both Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez are top-tier strikers. Both arguably are top five players in their position, so determining who is better than the other is a difficult task. For Argentina, the answer isn’t about who is individually superior, but rather who serves Lionel Scaloni’s tactics better from the opening whistle.

During the 2026 World Cup, both have played seven games, but Alvarez has started four opposed to Martinez’s three. Also, Alvarez has started in all KO games. Still, Martinez has three goals to Alvarez’s one.

Scaloni’s tactics are unconventional, but can’t be questioned

Some might say Lionel Scaloni’s decisions are a bit strange, or deficient at times. However, the results speak for themselves. Even if Scaloni’s decisions raise some eyebrows sometimes, when the team always win, it’s hard to argue.

Martinez having more goals than Alvarez would likely indicate he is the player with momentum. Still, Scaloni has loved how Martinez impregnates dynamism and intensity from the bench, while also having a knack for goal.

“It’s incredibly powerful, truly. Ever since the first time my old man bought me my boots, I always dreamed of scoring this goal,” Martinez said after the game. “It’s for my old lady, who since the day I left for Racing, never stopped making my bed. To me, that is worth more than a goal, more than a final.

“I have my two kids who changed my life, I enjoy all of this—my daughter made me slow down and take it all in, my son is three. Today I am a man; I enjoy life. I dreamed it, I swear to you. I told Alexis [Mac Allister] that I was going to score, and I told Facu [Facundo] Medina that he was going to come on and we were going to win it. It fell to me.

“Enzo [Fernández] scored an absolute golazo too. This team keeps showing what it’s made of. They [England] got tired; they pressed for 60 minutes and after that, they had nothing left. They dropped back, and that gave us more peace of mind to move the ball around.”

A dream final: Spain vs. Argentina

While Argentina holds the historical advantage over Spain in World Cup head-to-head records, this matchup will undoubtedly be the toughest test Lionel Scaloni’s side has faced in the tournament.

MetLife Stadium (New York/New Jersey) is scheduled to host the highly anticipated final between Argentina and Spain on Sunday, July 19. The world will watch an iconic showdown between Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi—a matchup many fans view as a symbolic passing of the torch between eras of football dominance.

Lionel Messi is set to grace his third career World Cup final, whereas the teenage sensation Yamal will experience his very first. The previously canceled 2025 Finalissima will now effectively be contested on an even grander stage, with the most prestigious trophy in sports on the line.

Lionel Messi remains the ultimate decisive factor

Though Messi did not find the back of the net in the semifinal against England, his brilliance anchored the victory as he provided two world-class assists in a seven-minute blitz to send Argentina through. The captain stepped up at the perfect moment to keep Argentina’s dream of back-to-back world titles alive.

By leading his country to another World Cup final, Messi is set to achieve a historic milestone of longevity that not even Pelé reached. Now, just 90 minutes separate the legendary playmaker from securing another crown and further cementing his peerless legacy.

After a scoreless first half, Argentina and England played out a highly tactical and grueling battle at Atlanta Stadium. Unfortunately for La Albiceleste, the second half began with a severe setback.

Anthony Gordon struck in the 55th minute to put England ahead. However, with less than ten minutes remaining in regulation, Lionel Messi produced two moments of pure magic, providing two crucial assists to spearhead a dramatic turnaround and send Argentina back to the World Cup final, where they will face Spain.

Thomas Tuchel unable to hold the advantage

England broke the deadlock early in the second half through a brilliant goal by Anthony Gordon. The newly signed Barcelona forward sneaked in behind Nahuel Molina to poke home a perfectly placed cross from Morgan Rogers.

Falling behind sparked Argentina into life; they immediately seized control of the game and dominated possession, launching wave after wave of attacks. While Jordan Pickford made several fine saves to keep the Three Lions ahead, the South Americans’ relentless persistence ultimately overwhelmed England’s retreating defensive line.

Thomas Tuchel attempted to exploit spaces on the counter-attack to find a second goal, but England struggled to retain the ball under intense pressure. While the German tactician tried to consolidate a defensive block, Lionel Scaloni’s aggressive attacking adjustments ultimately paved the way for an epic comeback.

The 2026 World Cup enters its final act

With the second semifinal officially decided, reigning champions Argentina will now face Spain in a blockbuster grand final, where their historical head-to-head World Cup record gives La Albiceleste a slight psychological edge.

Meanwhile, England must pick themselves up for a third-place play-off against France. The Three Lions’ inability to protect their lead means their agonizing wait for a World Cup trophy since 1966 will extend for at least another four years.

Manager Lionel Scaloni opted for a strategic shakeup rather than any disciplinary action, keeping Martinez in reserve as a high-impact weapon for later in the match. Having a proven finisher of his caliber ready to inject late energy could prove to be the exact edge Argentina need to break down the English defense, as both nations map out their pathways toward a coveted spot in the World Cup Final.

Martinez has a storied track record of stepping up in defining moments for his country, most notably when he delivered the extra-time winner against Colombia to lift the 2024 Copa America trophy. Follow our live blog of England vs Argentina to get minute-by-minute updates!

The stakes are high today between two lifelong rivals, as what happens today between Argentina and England will determine who plays Spain for the trophy and who faces France for the consolation third-place.

Other crucial names expected to start on the bench

The final lineup sheet revealed that Martinez isn’t the only high-profile omission from Scaloni’s standard lineup. Workhorse midfielder Rodrigo De Paul has also been dropped to the bench, with Atletico Madrid’s versatile Giuliano Simeone tapped to fill the massive void in the starting squad.

On the other side of the pitch, England are making notable changes of their own. Bukayo Saka isn’t starting as Morgan Rogers gets the chance to play from the get-go, with Marcus Rashford also benched today.

Martinez’s numbers with Argentina in the 2026 World Cup

Martinez has played a pivotal role for Argentina during the 2026 World Cup. Though often starting on the bench behind Julian Alvarez, the Inter Milan star has embraced his role as Argentina’s ultimate “super-sub,” delivering crucial, late-game contributions to propel La Albiceleste into the semifinals.

These are the stats for Martinez in the World Cup:

• Appearances: 6
• Starts: 4
• Minutes Played: 303
• Goals: 2
• Assists: 1
• Shots on Target: 3
• Passing Accuracy: 81.3% (57/70)
• Yellow Cards: 1

For this clash, head coach Lionel Scaloni will not start a player who is usually a key option for the team. Forward Lautaro Martinez will not be part of the starting lineup and will begin on the bench. With no official injury information reported, it is speculated that the move is purely tactical.

With this news, forward Julian Alvarez joins the starting lineup, just as he did in the previous match, and will slot into the attack alongside Lionel Messi. The referees for the match are already confirmed.

Lautaro looks to score from the bench

In fact, during the previous match against Egypt in the World Cup Round of 16, Lautaro Martinez also started the game on the bench, coming on in the second half and playing a decisive role in the comeback. Now, he will look to score once again, coming off the bench against Switzerland.

Argentina enter as favorites with a better position in the FIFA rankings against Switzerland, who look to break into the top 10 of the rankings and secure one of the best performances in their history.

However, Switzerland will suffer a very significant absence that could hinder their performance, as they will be without Johan Manzambi due to an injury. This is a tough blow for a match that is expected to have a massive attendance from the fans.

Argentina confirmed lineup

The confirmed lineups are out, and Lionel Scaloni will deploy the following starting eleven: Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernandez, Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allister; Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez.

La Albiceleste will make four changes compared to the team that narrowly defeated Cape Verde. Lionel Messi, once again wearing the captain’s armband and serving as the main attraction for a massive attendance for Argentina vs. Egypt, will partner with Alvarez in a traditional 4-4-2 formation.

Argentina aim to make their FIFA Ranking supremacy count against Egypt, with their position potentially changing depending on whether they win, tie, or lose. Scaloni is trusting these 11 players to start the match:

Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister; Lionel Messi (C), Julian Alvarez.

Lautaro Martinez’s impact on Argentina

When Lautaro Martinez isn’t in Argentina’s starting eleven, La Albiceleste look like a completely different beast upfront. We are talking about a forward who has already bagged 38 goals in 81 appearances for the national team—including a clinical penalty against Jordan—so not having that kind of firepower is always going to hurt.

The spotlight now turns to Julian Alvarez, who will be backed by thousands of Argentina supporters and their chants from the stands. Can Argentina continue their path toward another World Cup final?

Win to stay alive

Argentina will wear their traditional home kit and look to keep their World Cup campaign alive. With a packed stadium expected, the team knows Egypt sit lower in the FIFA rankings, although those numbers often become irrelevant once the match begins.

Whoever secures the victory will know that the next challenge will be against the winner of Colombia vs. Switzerland in the quarterfinals. The next-round match will be played in Kansas City on Saturday, July 11.

However, he received bad news on Friday, ahead of Inter’s away match against Como. According to an official statement from the Italian club, medical tests conducted after Martinez felt new physical discomfort revealed a “mild strain in the soleus muscle of his left leg“.

While Inter did not provide a definitive timeline—stating only that his condition would be reassessed in the coming days—early estimates suggest he will be sidelined for approximately 15 days. This timeline rules him out of this Sunday’s Serie A fixture and puts his availability for the second leg of the Coppa Italia semifinals against Cesc Fabregas’ side on April 21 in serious doubt.

Martinez’s previous injury

The situation has caused particular alarm in Argentina as this marks the forward’s second soleus injury in less than two months. Earlier this year, Martinez suffered a similar strain to his left calf during the first leg of the Champions League playoffs against Bodo/Glimt.

That injury was a massive blow to Inter Milan, as the captain was forced to watch from the sidelines while his team was eliminated in the return leg. He subsequently missed five Serie A matches (against Lecce, Genoa, Milan, Atalanta, and Fiorentina) as well as the first leg of the Coppa Italia semifinal.

On the international stage, the injury also prevented him from participating in Argentina’s March friendlies, where Lionel Scaloni’s side secured victories over Mauritania and Zambia.

Where Martinez stands in Scaloni’s consideration

Despite his recent fitness struggles, Martinez remains a cornerstone of Lionel Scaloni’s plans for the 2026 World Cup. However, the recurring nature of these muscle injuries is a growing concern given that the tournament is fast approaching.

Since February 18, Martinez has struggled to maintain any consistent rhythm, missing a total of seven matches for Inter and two for his country. Nevertheless, his overall output this season remains elite. In 36 official appearances for Inter Milan, the srtiker has logged 2,475 minutes, contributing 20 goals and 4 assists, maintaining his status as one of the most clinical strikers.

At the heart of that concern is star striker Lautaro Martinez, who was forced off mid-match following a painful episode that immediately drew attention from teammates and staff alike. Subsequent medical examinations confirmed that the Argentine hit a physical setback in the closing stages of the first meeting.

That setback has kept him out of the crucial return at San Siro, introducing new questions about Inter’s attacking options with a comeback on the line. While details are still emerging, the absence of the club’s captain casts a shadow over a tie already teetering on the edge.

Why is Lautaro Martinez missing for Inter vs. Bodo/Glimt?

Inter Milan face the second leg of their 2026 UEFA Champions League knockout phase tie without their captain and leading striker, Lautaro Martinez, after he suffered a left calf strain in the first meeting on February 19, 2026.

The injury occurred during the 1–3 defeat in Norway, forcing him off the pitch and immediately raising concerns inside the squad. Medical scans later confirmed a strain to the soleus muscle in his left leg.

Inter attributed the setback to the artificial surface and freezing conditions at Bodo/Glimt’s stadium, factors the club believes contributed to the incident. As a result, he is expected to be sidelined for roughly a month, ruling him out of the decisive return leg at San Siro.

The absence comes at a critical moment in the European campaign, with Inter needing a strong response to overturn the deficit. Head coach Christian Chivu urged calm after the first leg, stressing the need to manage the situation carefully amid a busy schedule that includes domestic commitments.

“Now we need to regather ourselves. We have a few issues after this game that we need to address carefully. We have to play Lecce and then we have the return leg on Tuesday. We need to assess our physical condition“, the coach told the official club website.

With Martinez unavailable, tactical adjustments will be required as Inter attempt to keep their Champions League hopes alive without their primary attacking reference point.

After the Italian team’s elimination from the championship was confirmed, team captain Lautaro Martinez gave an interview in which he sent a strong message: “The message is clear: whoever wants to stay, stay. Whoever doesn’t want to stay must go… We are fighting for an important shirt, and we have to fight for important goals… I won’t name names. We are here to do everything, but I saw many things I didn’t like.”

Although he did not mention Hakan Calhanoglu at any time, the fans pointed the finger at the Turk player. All this, because he allegedly expressed his desire to leave for Galatasaray. Even the president of the Turkish team Dursun Ozbek claimed to have already had talks with the player, according to GOAL. Despite the forcefulness of Lautaro’s words, Hakan did not remain unresponsive to them.

“What surprised me even more were the words that came after. Words that hit hard. Words that divide, not united. In my career, I’ve never looked for excuses. I’ve always taken responsibility… I’ve always shown respect on and off the pitch… I’ve never betrayed this club, I’ve never said I’m not happy at Inter. There were offers in the past, tempting ones,” Hakan Calhanoglu posted, via Instagram.

Hakan’s intention to leave the club encounters significant obstacles due to his binding contract through June 2027, as reported by Transfermarkt. Team president Giuseppe Marotta underscored their resolve to safeguard the club’s interests, affirming they will take all necessary actions. While the club remains open to his departure, Marotta’s comments imply that any deal would demand substantial financial compensation.

Not just Calhanoglu: Another Inter Milan player could be on his way out

Amid the potential departure of Hakan Calhanoglu from Inter Milan, he might not stand alone in seeking a new horizon. According to renowned journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Atletico Madrid have set their sights on acquiring midfielder Davide Frattesi. The Spanish club aims to fill the gap left by Rodrigo Riquelme’s absence, and sees Frattesi as a promising addition.

Additionally, the acquisition of Petar Sucic could push Frattesi out of the rotation. He currently lacks a regular starting role in the midfield. Therefore, a move to Atletico Madrid represents a promising career opportunity. In contrast, Hakan Calhanoglu remains a key player in the midfield. He often captains the team and continues to be a reliable mainstay.

From Bahia Blanca to San Siro, Lautaro Martinez has carved his path with sharp finishes and sharper instincts. Now a symbol of Inter Milan‘s resurgence, his game—and paycheck—are commanding global attention.

Wearing the captain’s armband and leading the Nerazzurri frontline, he isn’t just scoring goals, he’s cashing in on a career that keeps climbing. Behind the scenes, his salary reflects a club banking on its number ten.

As negotiations, trophies and temptations swirl around him, his earnings reveal more than just digits—they map out a soccer player whose value rises with every roar of the Curva Nord.

What is Lautaro Martinez’s salary at Inter Milan?

Inter Milan’s skipper is among Serie A’s top earners. According to Capology, Lautaro Martínez pockets a gross €16.67 million per season, which breaks down to around €320,577 per week—excluding performance incentives.

While net figures aren’t public, a Capology report puts his take-home pay at around €9 million annually. In context, he leads Inter’s wage bill—estimated at about €140.7 million gross for the 2024–25 season.

How long will Lautaro Martinez be at Inter Milan?

In a pivotal moment for Inter Milan, Lautaro Martínez extended his contract until June 30, 2029, sealing a long-term commitment that reflects not only his performances but also his symbolic value to the club.

The deal was officially announced by Inter on August 12, 2024, through a statement on their website and social platforms, confirming that their captain would be staying in Milan for at least five more seasons.

This wasn’t a simple renewal. His extension was the result of months of negotiations, during which both parties aligned on a shared vision: a future with him at the heart of Inter’s ambitions.

Beyond the numbers, the deal represents a signal of stability. At a time when top players are constantly targeted by Premier League clubs or Saudi Pro League offers, his commitment to Inter speaks volumes.

He’s not just staying for the paycheck—he’s staying to build a legacy. With the armband on his sleeve and a contract running through 2029, he is positioned to become one of the club’s most iconic figures of the modern era.