The offensive sector has consolidated itself as one of the biggest strengths of the Argentina team in the preparatory cycle. Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez are experiencing high-level phases at their respective European clubs and are in direct competition for the starting center forward spot. The competition raises the technical quality of the group and creates a scenario of strategic choices for coach Lionel Scaloni when assembling the team.
Julián Álvarez, currently at Atlético de Madrid, assumed the starting role during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. On that occasion, the striker won the place after performances below expectations from Lautaro Martínez at the beginning of the tournament. The Spanish club’s player found the back of the net four times in the world title campaign, while the Inter Milan athlete finished the competition without scoring a goal.
Numbers and appreciation in the European market consolidate the center forwards
Keeping Julián Álvarez among the starters is justified by his recent performance in Spanish football. The good form of the number 9 caught the attention of the transfer market, causing Atlético de Madrid to reject an offer of 150 million euros from Real Madrid to negotiate the athlete. The striker ended the 2025/2026 season with 20 goals scored for Diego Simeone’s team.
On the other hand, Lautaro Martínez is pushing for his place after becoming champion and top scorer in the Italian Championship with Inter Milan. The player’s recent performance leaves open the possibility of him returning to the starting line-up in the world tournament, or even of Scaloni opting for a tactical formation that aligns the two center forwards together from the start of the matches.
Recent selection history and first phase calendar
Recent retrospect shows a greater balance between competitors. Since the end of the last World Cup, Lautaro Martínez has recovered his efficiency with the national team’s shirt and scored nine goals in official and friendly matches, surpassing the five goals scored by Julián Álvarez in the same period. This growth gives the Argentine coach different tactical alternatives depending on the opponent’s style.
The definition of the starting attack takes place in the final stretch of training for the initial commitments of Group A. Argentina’s table in the group stage features the following clashes:
- 1st round: Argentina x Algeria, June 16, 10pm, in Kansas City
- 2nd round: Argentina x Austria, June 22nd, 2pm, in Dallas
- 3rd round: Jordan x Argentina, June 27, at 11pm, in Dallas