Lautaro Martinez fundamental for Messi's Argentina

The Corriere della Sera analyzed the role of Lautaro Martinez in the Argentine national team, explaining why the Inter captain is more functional than Julian Alvarez in the Albiceleste‘s playing system.

In the balance of the South American team, Martinez plays a role comparable to that of Giroud with France at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The French striker finished that tournament without scoring, but provided assists and opened up spaces for his teammates, especially for Mbappé. He was asked to do similar work in Qatar, where Giroud scored 4 goals, but did not win the title.

Messi at 39 no longer has the mobility of the French champion, so he needs teammates who can run for him, both in midfield and attack. In this aspect, Lautaro excels, proving to be a marathon runner with a knife between his teeth. However, this expenditure of energy makes him less sharp in front of goal, making him the target of criticism from Alvarez‘s supporters, especially after the two dribbles suffered by Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha during a pressing action.

It is no coincidence that the only goal scored by the number 10 of Inter came precisely when Messi was not on the pitch. On that occasion, against Jordan, Alvarez started alongside Lautaro for the only time, not in top form. This condition allowed the Bull to overtake, exactly the opposite of what happened in Qatar.