Lautaro Martinez: Life, Clubs, Career, Stats and Net Worth

Binodh RoyPublished: 27th May 2024 11:24 AM

Lautaro Martínez is an Argentine footballer known for his exceptional work rate, link-up play positioning, and goal-scoring ability. He also plays in Serie A representing Italian giants Inter Milan.

Early life

Born in Bahía Blanca, Martínez began playing football with local side Liniers, At the U-17 level he excelled scoring 13 goals, and despite scoring the 2013 National Cup final, Liniers lost on penalties to Rosario. His performance gained the attention of Racing Club’s interim coach, Fabio Radaelli, leading to Martínez’s joining them in January 2014. Initial homesickness held him back, but teammate Braian Mansilla convinced him and the results were rewarding as he scored 53 goals in 64 appearances for Racing’s reserve team.

Youth days

Although Racing Club and Real Madrid reached an agreement for Martínez in 2015, he chose to stay in Argentina, as his father revealed he wasn’t ready for Europe. He debuted on November 1, 2015, replacing Diego Milito in a 3-0 victory over Crucero del Norte. Later that month, Martínez scored his first goal in a 1-1 draw with Huracán. However, Martínez assumed a senior role after Lisandro López’s injury in the 2016-17 season, scoring 9 goals in 23 league appearances.

Racing announced a renewed contract increasing the release clause, after Martinez underwent a medical with Atletico. Later the Spanish club was criticized for their unauthorized medical. Therefore, he ended the year with a stellar performance against Gimnasia and even scored a hat-trick on his Copa Libertadores debut against Cruzeiro, leading Racing to a 4-2 win in 2017.

Racing Club President Victor Blanco announced the departure of Martínez to Inter Milan. Their efforts to keep him on loan until December 2018 for the Copa Libertadores did not materialize.

Inter Milan

For €22.7 million, Lautaro Martínez joined Inter Milan on 4 July 2018 signing a five-year contract. His impact was immediate from his Serie A debut on 19 August, but his first league goal had to wait till September against Cagliari.

In Europe, Martínez scored his first goal in the UEFA Europa League match against Rapid Wien, stepping up in Mauro Icardi’s absence. He was also pivotal in a 3-2 Derby della Madonnina win over Milan, recording a goal and an assist.

In the 2019-20 UEFA Champions League, Martínez became the first Inter player to score against Barcelona at Camp Nou since 1970 and also netted a brace against Slavia Prague. The goals kept coming as he added two more in a 5-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk, helping Inter reach the Europa League Final.

In the 2022/23 Champions League season, Martínez scored in the win over Liverpool which was Inter’s first knockout goal in nearly a decade. However, his goal secured Inter’s place in the Champions League final for the first time since 2010, which was followed by a double to clinch the Coppa Italia.

It was business as usual for Martínez next season, scoring multiple goals, including four as a substitute against Salernitana, for the first time. His 100th Serie A goal and personal best season with 22 goals, but in the Champions League shoot-out he missed a penalty in a defeat to Atlético Madrid in the 2023/24 season.

Club stats

Racing – 27 goals in 60 appearances

Inter Milan- 152 goals in 342 appearances

International career

On March 2018 Martinez made his senior debut against Spain in a 6-1 loss after receiving his first call-up earlier that month. Despite making it to the preliminary squad for the 2018 World Cup, he didn’t make the final cut. In a 4-0 victory over Italy, he scored his first goal that year. His presence was key in the 2019 Copa America scoring against Qatar and Venezuela, which also earned Man of the Match in the latter.

He scored his first hat-trick in a 4-0 win over Mexico, also in 2019. Important goals against Bolivia, Ecuador, and Colombia in the 2021 Copa America helped Argentina reach the final. A goal and assist against Italy in Finalissimaa was enough to seal the 3-0 win. In Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph Martinez was influential, scoring a crucial penalty in the quarter-finals and also a memorable performance in the final against France.

International stats

Argentina-22 goals in 56 appearances

Personal life

The Argentine has been in a relationship with entrepreneur and fitness trainer Agustina Gandolfo since 2016. The pair later married on May 27, 2023, at Lake Como, Italy. Now, the couple has two children: a daughter, Nina, and a son.

Honours

Inter Milan

Serie A: 2020–21,2023–24
Coppa Italia: 2021–22, 2022–23
Supercoppa Italiana: 2021, 2022, 2023
UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2022–23
UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2019–20

Argentina

FIFA World Cup: 2022
Copa América: 2021
CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions: 2022

Individual

Argentine Primera División Breakthrough player: 2017–18
UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season: 2019–20
South American Youth Football Championship top scorer: 2017
Serie A Player of the Month: October 2023

Net worth

As per his recent contract that expires in June 2023, Lautaro Martínez earns £183,000per week,£9,516,000 per year playing for Inter and the 25-year old’s net worth stands at £38,013,040 as of now.

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