Lautaro Martinez – Inter Milan’s Incredible World Cup Final Streak

Argentina had their little magician, Lionel Messi, to thank once again for reaching and winning the FIFA World Cup Final.

His brilliant display – including scoring one and assisting another – ensured that his Albicelestes reached the 2022 FIFA World cup final with a 3-0 victory over Croatia. But it wasn’t just Argentinians the world over that had Messi to thank.

Thanks to the Paris Saint-Germain superstar will also be sent from the San Siro, specifically from Inter Milan. Argentina’s – and in particular, striker Lautaro Martinez’s – progression to the final, has continued an incredible record for the Nerazzurri. Every FIFA World Cup since 1982 has featured a Nerazzurri star.

The only other club on the planet that can boast such a record is Germany’s record champions Bayern Munich. They too have had one of their players feature in every World Cup final since 1982, and that record continued this year.

The Bavarians had representatives in both nations competing in the second semi-final, namely Morocco’s Noussair Mazraoui and French trio Dayot Upamecano, Benjamin Pavard, and Kingsley Coman.

In fairness, that also was the case with Inter Milan. Their record would have continued even had Argentina lost, as Croatia had an Inter star of their own in their ranks, namely Marcelo Brozović.

Yet, Bovada’s soccer betting odds highly favored Argentina as the very team to reach the December 18th showpiece. And in the end, the odds were proved right.

It will be Martinez, Messi, and Argentina who had a shot at and secured immortality.

Finalists Through The Years

Four years ago in Russia, Inter had to players featuring in the FIFA World Cup final, however, unfortunately, they were both on the losing side.

The aforementioned Brozović and Ivan Perišić both started for Croatia in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium as France ran out 4-2 winners, lifting the famous gold trophy for the second time in the nation’s history.

In Brazil in 2014, it was Rodrigo Palacio that flew the Nerrazuri flag. He featured as a substitute in the Rio de Janeiro showpiece however, he too was on the losing side as Mario Götze’s extra-time winner clinched Germany a 1-0 victory over Argentina.

Hugo Campagnaro and Ricky Álvarez were also both on the bench for the Albicelestes but didn’t feature in the final.

Back in 2010, it looked like it was Wesley Sneijder’s time. He had just won the Champions League with Inter Milan under Jose Mourinho and his brilliance in South Africa led the Netherlands to the World Cup final.

Spain were simply one obstacle too many in the final, however, winning an ill-tempered affair, once again in extra time.

As we all know and hate, it has been eight long years since Italy featured at the World Cup. That has been thanks to shocking qualifying playoff defeats at the hands of Sweden and most recently, North Macedonia.

But back in 2006, they won the tournament for the fourth time, and it was Inter Milan’s Marco Materazzi who scored the equalising goal for the Azzurri.

Another Inter star – perhaps the greatest of them all – scored in the World Cup final back in 2002. Ronaldo’s double was enough to secure the trophy for a record-breaking fifth time for Brazil at the expense of beaten finalists Germany. He also featured in the 1998 final, however, was on the losing side as France defeated the Selecao 3-0 in Paris.

Nicola Berti, Andreas Brehme, Lothar Matthäus, Jürgen Klinsmann, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, and Giuseppe Bergomi have all represented Inter Milan in football’s greatest game in years prior, with differing results.

It will be interesting to see if Lautaro Martinez comes out on the winning side this year.

How Have Inter’s Stars Fared In Qatar?

Apart from the aforementioned Martinez and Brozović, there have been a few other San Siro stars who featured at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, however, some have fared better than others.

Denzel Dumfries started every game for the Netherlands as they reached the last eight. They eventually succumbed to Martinez, Messi, and Argentina in a bad-tempered quarterfinal, however, eventually losing a penalty shootout despite coming back from two goals down in injury time.

Stefan de Vrij was also in the Oranje squad but didn’t manage to make the starting eleven.

Romelu Lukaku was an injury worry that Belgium boss Roberto Martinez clearly felt the need to take. Fitness issues meant that the powerful striker couldn’t start for the Red Devils, with Michy Batshuayi chosen to lead the line instead.

Lukaku however was summoned when the Belgians needed a goal to progress in their final group game against Croatia.

Rather than find the target though, the Inter striker missed no less than FIVE guilt-edged opportunities. We would imagine he is now public enemy number one in Brussels.

Goalkeeper André Onana was included in the Cameroon squad and did start their opening game against Switzerland, a game which the Indomitable Lions would lose 1-0. Due to disciplinary issues, however, he would miss out on their next two games – an enthralling 3-3 draw with Serbia and a stunning 1-0 victory against Brazil.