Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martínez has revealed that he informed his teammate Alexis Mac Allister of his intention to score just before he netted the injury-time winner in Argentina’s 2-1 triumph over England in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals.
Martínez, who came off the bench in the 81st minute, directed a header from a cross delivered by Lionel Messi to secure his team's place in the final.
After Anthony Gordon opened the scoring, the Three Lions adopted a defensive strategy to protect their 1-0 advantage. This approach held until the 85th minute when Enzo Fernández brought Argentina level.
Lautaro Martínez’s decisive goal capped off a comeback that has become a hallmark of Argentina's performance in this tournament.
Reflecting on the match afterward, Martínez expressed that he had envisioned scoring the winning goal and was thrilled that his forecast came to fruition.
He commended Enzo Fernandez’s equalizer and emphasized that Argentina’s success demonstrated the squad's resilience and determination.
“I envisioned it [the goal], I swear. I told Alexis [Mac Allister] that I was going to score.
“I mentioned that I would come on and make the difference. And it came to me.
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“Enzo netted a fantastic goal as well, and now that I feel calmer, I can say this team keeps proving its worth.
“They [England] fatigued. They pressed hard for 60 minutes. After that, they had nothing left. They started strong and then found the net.
“Then they retreated, which allowed us to be more composed in ball movement. We expanded the play, and ultimately we got the two goals, and after three and a half years, we’re back in a World Cup final,” he stated.
