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Lautaro Martinez was overcome with emotion on the field after firing Argentina into the 2026 World Cup final with a dramatic late winner against England. The Inter Milan captain broke down in tears during a live post-match television interview in Atlanta, reflecting on his journey from modest beginnings to standing on the brink of a second world title.

Argentina sealed a memorable 2-1 victory over England in the semi-final, thanks to Martinez’s decisive strike. Coming on as an 81st-minute substitute with Argentina trailing 1-0, Martinez played a crucial role in turning the tide. Enzo Fernandez levelled the score before Lionel Messi sent in a precise cross in the 92nd minute, which Martinez headed home to complete the comeback. The ‘Toro’ was the difference-maker in a tense encounter, propelling La Albiceleste into the final against Spain on Sunday. As the final whistle blew, the magnitude of the moment hit Martinez, who openly wept while recalling his long journey in football.

“It’s such a powerful feeling,” Martinez said through tears on the pitch. “The first time my father bought me a pair of boots… I always dreamed of scoring this goal. It’s pure joy. I dreamt it, honestly. I told Alexis [Mac Allister] that I was going to score, and then on the bench I told Facundo Medina… and it happened. Enzo also scored a brilliant goal. This team keeps showing what it’s made of.”

The forward’s emotional reaction was deeply tied to his family and the sacrifices they made along his path to success. Martinez used the interview to pay heartfelt tribute to his mother and recall the reality of his upbringing before rising to prominence with Racing Club and later achieving stardom in Europe with Inter Milan. At San Siro, he has reached the pinnacle of Italian football, winning the Serie A title three times – most recently last season – along with several other trophies, and finishing as the league’s top scorer last term.

“To my mother, who, on the day I left for Racing, never stopped making my bed. That means more than any goal, more than any final. My two children are here; they changed my life. They made me slow down, helped me enjoy life more. I just called my mother, who was at work. She suffers a lot; she prefers to work because it’s too hard for her to watch the matches,” the striker said, still trying to process the magnitude of Argentina’s victory.

Tactical analysis of the match suggested that Argentina’s composure and patience ultimately wore down an England team that started stronger. This calm approach has been a hallmark of their campaign – from edging past Cape Verde in extra time to scoring three late goals against Egypt and surviving another gruelling extra-time battle against Switzerland. Under the hot Atlanta conditions, Martinez observed that England’s intensity eventually dropped, allowing Argentina to exploit the spaces that opened up.

“They got tired,” Martinez explained of the semi-final flow. “They pressed for an hour, scored, and then dropped back. That gave us the calmness we needed; we spread the play and knew where to strike. On the second cross from Leo, I managed to get behind [John] Stones. Now we’re in another World Cup final – the joy is immense, and we have to savour this moment.”

The scenes at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium captured the emotional and physical strain of a deep World Cup campaign. For Martinez, realising he had sent Argentina to another final was overwhelming. He was visibly emotional as he spoke about his family and their constant support.

“I can’t stop crying. I think of my wife, my children, my parents. It’s all so difficult, with so many emotions,” he said. Argentina will next travel to East Rutherford, where they will face Spain, who overcame France in the other semi-final.