Internazionale captain Lautaro Martínez stated after the spectacular victory over Barcelona that he did everything he could to be fit for Tuesday's match. The Argentine striker recovered just in time and opened the scoring at San Siro.
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On a night that will be remembered for years to come, Inter Milan defeated Barcelona 4-3 in one of the most dramatic and emotionally charged Champions League matches of the season.
But beyond the scoreline and the fireworks at San Siro, the story that truly captured the hearts of fans was that of Lautaro Martínez Inter's captain, goalscorer, and emotional leader who overcame a serious injury and an intense week of physical and psychological pain to lead his team into the semifinals.
Martínez, who suffered a muscle injury during the first leg in Barcelona, revealed after the match just how close he was to missing this pivotal clash. Speaking to TNT Sports, the Argentine striker gave an emotional account of the past week.
“I’ve had some really tough days,” he said. “I could barely lift my leg. The first two days after the game in Barcelona, I just stayed home crying. I was devastated. I thought I wouldn't make it. But I promised my wife and kids I would do everything to be ready and I did.”
It was more than just words. Lautaro returned to training just days before the second leg and went through intense rehabilitation in a race against time. Against all odds, he was named in the starting lineup and within 12 minutes, he had already made his mark. Receiving a precise cross from Denzel Dumfries, Martínez calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner, sending the San Siro into a frenzy. It was a moment of catharsis, not only for the fans but for Lautaro himself, who had fought so hard to be on that pitch.
Before the break, he was again involved this time drawing the foul inside the box that led to a penalty, confidently converted by Hakan Çalhanoğlu. Inter would go on to score two more goals in a second half full of tension, fight, and drama. Barcelona responded with all their might, but the Nerazzurri held firm. The final whistle blew with the scoreboard reading 4-3 a night of triumph for Inter and redemption for their captain.
Martínez’s goal against Barcelona was his ninth in this Champions League campaign, allowing him to equal the all-time Inter record for most goals in a single European season a record previously held by another Argentine legend, Hernán Crespo. Crespo scored nine goals during Inter’s 2002/03 Champions League campaign, including three against Ajax in the group stage, when the Dutch side was managed by Ronald Koeman. For Lautaro to match that mark over two decades later, and in such dramatic fashion, adds a poetic layer to the accomplishment.
What makes Martínez’s run even more impressive is that eight of his nine goals have come in the 2025 calendar year. In the group stage, he only managed to score once against Red Star Belgrade. But since the turn of the year, he has exploded into life, scoring eight goals in just seven appearances, including a crucial strike in the Round of 16 first leg against Feyenoord. His post-January form has been among the best in Europe, turning him into one of the most feared forwards in the competition.
For Inter fans, Lautaro has become more than a player he embodies the spirit of the club. Signed in 2018 from Racing Club, he has grown into a leader, a talisman, and now, a record-matcher. His passion, fighting spirit, and connection with the supporters make him a natural captain, and performances like this cement his legacy at San Siro.
Manager Simone Inzaghi didn’t hold back in his praise after the match. “What Lautaro did tonight goes beyond tactics and technique,” he said. “He gave everything for this team not just the goal and the assist, but the belief. Everyone followed his lead. When he’s like this, he lifts us all.”
Inter will now face either Manchester City or Atlético Madrid in the semifinals, and they do so with momentum, belief, and a fully recharged Lautaro Martínez. If Tuesday night proved anything, it’s that when the stakes are highest, champions rise and Lautaro Martínez is playing like one of the very best in the world.
