Scaloni’s striking conundrum: Julian Alvarez’s return amid transfer drama or Lautaro Martinez’s proven form for Argentina
Argentina’s attack presents a fascinating choice for coach Lionel Scaloni: partner Lionel Messi with Lautaro Martinez, who started the opening match, or Julian Alvarez, returning from injury and previously Scaloni’s preferred number one. Adding to the complexity, Alvarez is currently embroiled in a high-profile transfer saga.
The question echoes across Argentina: “Julian or Lautaro?” For Lionel Scaloni, the national team coach, this familiar dilemma concerning the central attacking role resurfaces for the 2026 World Cup, much like it did in the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 Copa América. With Lionel Messi’s position up front unequivocally secured – a fact only reinforced by his hat-trick in the opening match – the choice between Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez remains Scaloni’s most pressing tactical decision.
This is undeniably a luxury problem for the coach. With the Inter striker and the Atletico Madrid forward, Scaloni commands two of the world’s top five most valuable center-forwards, according to Transfermarkt. While a player’s market value, often tied to contract length, doesn’t tell the full story, it certainly highlights the immense quality of Martinez (€85 million) and Alvarez (€100 million), the latter of whom is currently at the heart of intense transfer speculation.
Player profiles: Martinez the bull, Alvarez the dribbler
Despite both being prolific scorers and standing just over 1m70 tall, Martinez and Alvarez possess distinct playing styles.
Lautaro Martinez, at 28, started the opening fixture and offers a slightly more team-oriented contribution, particularly through his superior aerial ability. He frequently scores with his head (five times this season compared to none for Alvarez), posing a significant threat from set pieces. Known for dropping deep and making incisive runs into space, he’s a potent weapon on the counter-attack and a formidable presence in the penalty area, as demonstrated by his memorable bicycle kick against Peru. Martinez is also excellent with his back to goal and is more willing to engage in defensive duels than Alvarez, showcasing a broader defensive repertoire.
Julian Alvarez, nicknamed ‘the Spider,’ is a superior dribbler, capable of carrying the ball forward effectively and advancing his team’s play – a trait less prominent in ‘El Toro’ (Martinez), who prefers to receive the ball in deeper attacking positions. Alvarez (26) also demonstrates greater playmaking ability than his counterpart, having registered eight assists this season. However, at 1m70, Alvarez has not scored a single header this season, a factor that could prove significant in World Cup scenarios.
He compensates for this with an impressive ability to score from distance, using both his right and left foot, and a technical proficiency that allows him to thrive even in tight spaces.
Statistical comparison: Martinez’s higher goal tally
Martinez’s relationship with the World Cup has been challenging, as he has yet to score in eight matches in the sport’s biggest tournament. The hierarchy between the two strikers shifted dramatically during the third group stage match of the 2022 World Cup.
After two goalless starts against Saudi Arabia and Mexico, the Inter Milan forward lost his place to Alvarez. The then-Manchester City player seized his opportunity against Poland, scoring and solidifying his position as Scaloni’s primary striker. With four goals in the final five matches of that tournament, including a crucial brace in the semi-final against Croatia, Alvarez earned Scaloni’s trust. He was subsequently preferred over Martinez during the 2024 Copa América, despite Martinez having a higher goal count (two for Alvarez versus five for Martinez during that specific period).
Since June 2024, at the start of the South American tournament won by the Albiceleste, Martinez has scored thirteen goals and provided three assists in 1180 minutes for the national team, compared to Alvarez’s seven goals and two assists in 1600 minutes.
Current form: The burning transfer question
Despite these favorable statistics, Martinez’s somewhat underwhelming performance in the first match has reignited the debate about who should lead the line. Julian Alvarez had been Scaloni’s number one choice in recent months, and his absence from the starting lineup was due to a calf injury sustained in the Champions League semi-final with Atletico Madrid. His 35 minutes at the end of the match against Algeria marked his first appearance since May 5. “Julian is ready to play,” Scaloni had assured before the opening game.
The question now is whether he will start against Austria on Monday, or perhaps in the final group stage match. Scaloni is keenly aware that his striker is at the epicenter of the biggest transfer saga in Spanish football. Alvarez, under contract with Atletico until 2030, is being aggressively pursued by Europe’s elite clubs. This situation has created considerable tension, with Atletico even responding ironically on social media to a reported €100 million offer from Barcelona. Additionally, with reported interest from Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, Alvarez has allegedly informed Atletico that he no longer wishes to play under coach Diego Simeone, according to reports from “Marca”. Barcelona appears to be his most likely final destination, suggesting the Alvarez transfer saga could dominate headlines for much of the summer.
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