Lautaro Martinez shines in the Copa America, with his goals he launches Argentina into the quarterfinals

Why does the word appear “Bull” trending on X? Because in the Italian night precisely the Bull Lautaro Martinez He scored his second goal in two games Copa America and threw his Argentina to the quarter-finals. Decisive and very punctual. Also momentary top scorer of the tournament. The first goal against Canada and the second against Chile almost seem like a photocopy because of how they arrived: the Inter striker wore the shirt of the goalscorer who takes over is that in the 88th minute he displaces the opposing goalkeeper.

Peru, who will be the third and final opponent of Scaloni’s national team in the group stage at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, therefore already knows when they will have to raise a wall around their goal. Coincidences aside, the average goals/minutes Lautaro’s performance on the other side of the ocean is incredible: a goal every 15 minutes, playing just a quarter of an hour or so (14 minutes against Canada and 17 with Chile). Of course, the data is on two games but the cover man of the Scaloneta now it’s just him thanks to his arrivals on the pitch.

A completely different story compared to just three months ago. It was last March (after the assist against El Salvador and before his return to scoring with Costa Rica) and a polemical Lautaro replied like this to who was grumbling for the fact that with Inter he was a machine in front of goal while with Argentina he hadn’t scored for a year and a half (and 16 games): «I’ll let the others talk. I don’t really care what they say, because in every training session I show the coach that I am always available to the team: to start, as a substitute or to cheer for my teammates from the bench.”

Having broken his fast and returned to his hunger for goals, Lautaro now doesn’t suffer at all from starting from the bench or being a starter Julian Alvarez and the proven relay with the 24-year-old from Manchester City has now turned him into one of those “sentence” bombers who enter the match in progress to decide it. «I always try to work for Argentina and to prove to the coach that I’m ready to play – he said at the end of the race with just a hint of a smile -. My celebration towards the grandstand? Because my family is there and I play for them. I am happy”.

A bit like Scaloni who has definitively found his striker. Which is also the captain of Inter and it will be until 2029. The announcement is missing, not the agreement for the long-awaited contract extension, in a summer that for Toro will also be remembered for this signing on the renewal five-year deal at 9 million plus bonuses. But first the Copa.