Lautaro Martínez
#22 · Forward · age 28 · (VC)
94
WC26 rating
- Recent form
- 79
- Career peak
- 84
- League level
- 90
- Competition pedigree
- 98
- International pedigree
- 100
- Longevity
- 76
Independent rating — league strength (Opta-anchored) × competition tier × position-normalized output. Not affiliated with EA or FIFA.
Career by season
Source: sofascore · fetched 2026-05-29
Lautaro is the engine of Argentina’s high press and the reference point of their attacking shape. With Messi dropping into a free role, the No. 9 becomes responsible for stretching backlines and arriving at the back post — a job he has done at club level for seven seasons under Conte, Inzaghi, and now Chivu.
Group J’s defensive personnel suit him. Algeria’s Mandi-Bensebaini pairing is veteran but slow on the turn; Jordan’s domestic-league central defenders will struggle with his movement off the shoulder; Austria’s Danso-Lienhart axis is the toughest test but plays a high line that Lautaro’s straight-line burst can exploit. A semi-final run for the holders likely needs eight to ten goals from him.
Strengths
- Channel-running and back-to-goal hold-up against tight man-marking
- Right-foot finishing across the six-yard box
- Pressing trigger — sets Argentina's defensive shape from the front
Recent form
33 goals in all competitions for Inter through May 2026; named vice-captain of the national team for this World Cup.
Nicknamed 'El Toro' since his Racing Club academy days for charging at defenders during U-15 trials.