After a hiatus of 18 months, Lautaro Martinez, the forward for Inter Milan, has recently registered a goal with the Argentina national team. Aged 26, Martinez has exhibited exceptional performance as a center forward in European football, notably contributing to Inter Milan’s pursuit of the Scudetto. Consequently, his market value has witnessed a steady ascent, prompting the club’s endeavors towards securing his services with a new extended contract.
Despite his commendable progress at Inter Milan, Martinez has encountered difficulties in replicating his prolific form with the Argentina national team, amassing a tally of only 22 goals across 56 appearances. His participation in the 2022 FIFA World Cup was marked by subdued performance, as evidenced by a solitary goal disallowed due to a marginal offside infringement against Saudi Arabia.
Argentina recently contested against Costa Rica in their second international friendly during this break, clinching a comfortable 3-1 victory. In the 77th minute of the match, Martinez sealed the win with a goal from close range, thereby alleviating a personal sense of frustration.
This goal marks Martinez’s first for the national team since his last strike in a 3-0 friendly triumph over Honduras in September 2022, marking an interval of over 18 months.