Lautaro Martinez is moving towards a new place in Argentina’s history, with the Inter captain now one goal from Sergio Aguero’s total for the national team. His strike against Bolivia took him to 41 goals in 85 appearances, leaving him within reach of third place on the all-time scoring list as Argentina prepare for the final international fixtures of Lionel Messi’s career.
Aguero stands on 42 goals, while Gabriel Batistuta remains second with 55. Messi is beyond both, having scored 125 times in 207 matches, and Argentina hope his farewell game on 6 October will bring one more goal from their captain. There is also the prospect of Lautaro sharing the attack with him at the Monumental, in an occasion that will mark the end of one era and could help define the next.
The Bolivia match underlined Lautaro’s standing within the group. He scored despite taking an accidental stud to the back of the head, receiving a bandage and continuing until the 75th minute, when José Lopez replaced him. It was another illustration of the resilience that has become central to his role for club and country.
Since the start of 2024, Lautaro has recorded 20 goals across his last 33 Argentina games. He was part of the 2022 World Cup-winning squad, beginning the tournament as a starter before often being used from the bench, and then finished as the leading scorer at the 2024 Copa America. His recent international record also includes goals against Jordan, Switzerland and, most notably, England on the road to the World Cup final.
A partnership taking shape
The Bolivia friendly also offered a tactical indication of what may follow Messi’s departure. Lautaro played alongside Julian Alvarez, with the two forwards linking well and repeatedly looking for one another. Their understanding has been described as free of rivalry: two attackers with different qualities, but capable of complementing each other rather than competing for the same spaces.
For Lautaro, that combination may matter as much as the record books. The Inter forward is seeking a more decisive leadership role after the frustration of not playing a minute in the World Cup final against Spain. The question around that absence has followed him, but his growing output has strengthened his claim to be among Argentina’s central figures in the next cycle.
He could be rested for one of the remaining friendlies against Burkina Faso and Benin, potentially the latter, when Messi is expected to start in his last match at the Monumental. From 7 October, Argentina will begin a different chapter. Lautaro may enter it with Aguero behind him, Batistuta 13 goals ahead, and Alvarez at his side in an attack that increasingly looks prepared to carry responsibility after Messi.
