Lautaro Martínez: From a Bahía Blanca home to argentina’s World Cup dream

In a modest rented house in Bahía Blanca, where Lautaro Martínez spent almost three years paying only 100 pesos for electricity, the Argentine striker recalls the words that still echo: “Mis padres estaban desempleados y atravesábamos una situación económica difícil.”

From a borrowed house to a World Cup goal

The decisive strike that propelled Argentina to a World Cup final was not celebrated in a packed stadium but was first imagined in that Bahía Blanca home. The moment was later highlighted in the video titled “Inter de Milán - Kairat Amati | El gol de Lautaro Telefónica.”

After the match, the forward broke down remembering his silent parents, the protagonists of a difficult childhood. “A mi vieja, que cuando me fui a Racing jamás dejó de tender mi cama,” he said through tears.

Desde those bleak moments, Martínez has spoken of years when his family had no income and had to choose between food and rent. “Mis padres estaban desempleados y atravesábamos una situación económica difícil. No teníamos ningún ingreso,” he recalled.

Childhood hardships that shaped a champion

He recalled the phrase “Con 100 pesos de vez en cuando por la luz.” Yet he smiles, saying “Era feliz. Feliz así.”

Football runs in his blood: his father Mario Martínez was a professional player, his grandmother Luisa a prolific scorer when few women played, and his grandfather served as a referee. Those roots were reinforced when he joined Inter de Milán.

From a young age he showed unusual discipline, asking for pasta before games and organising his training. At eight he already knew he wanted to be a footballer, and at fifteen he almost chose basketball, but “Ese niño” ultimately kept the ball.

The first pair of boots, blue and white, were a huge sacrifice for his parents, a gift he will always remember. “Mi vida ha cambiado mucho, pero puedo devolverle a mi familia todo lo que me han dado,” he said, underscoring the lasting impact of his early hardships.