Published Jul 19, 2026, 6:04 AM ET · Updated 4 months ago · 1 source

‘Afraid of nothing’: how Argentina’s players drew on childhood inspiration to reach the final

guardian
guardian
·
Original Report
INFERY
‘Afraid of nothing’: how Argentina’s players drew on childhood inspiration to reach the final

A fter scoring the goal that secured Argentina’s place in the World Cup final, Lautaro Martínez burst into convulsive sobs during the touchline interview. He spoke of the first pair of trainers his father bought him and of how his mother kept making his bed when he moved to a club pension house in another city as a teenager. Every single day. Martínez said that mattered to him more than any goal, any cup. Argentina’s head coach, Lionel Scaloni, said he was a bit worried after England’s goal but