Lautaro Martínez's controversial "like" that exposed his tension with Scaloni after the World Cup final

An unexpected move on the official account of the Argentine national team striker set off all the alarms and unleashed an intense controversy after the bitter showdown against Spain.

Argentina's National Team defeat to Spain in the final of the2026 World Cup left deep scars that go far beyond the sadness over the sporting result. Among the tactical decisions that drew the most criticism from fans and the specialized press was the striking absence on the field of Lautaro Martínez, who remained on the substitutes' bench for the full 120 minutes.

According to the Argentine outlet Todo Noticias (TN), the bomb finally went off when a forceful "like" from the current Inter Milan captain went viral on social media. The striker reacted to a post loaded with criticism toward coach Lionel Scaloni, implicitly confirming the discomfort over not having played in the final.

A "like" that sparked controversy

The interaction that triggered the conflict occurred on the account of the Italian outlet Spazio Inter, where a split image of Lautaro Martínez and Lionel Scaloni was shared. The post displayed a categorical phrase: “Lautaro Martínez was left on the bench: controversy erupted in Argentina”, arguing that there was no logical explanation for his being left out of the starting lineup.

In the same post, the Italian outlet echoed an editorial from the pro-Racing site Racing De Alma, in which they described the omission of the striker as "the biggest mistake" made by the national tactician throughout his entire spell in charge of the team. The fact that "Toro" himself put his stamp of approval on that text immediately ignited the media debate.

Users on digital platforms noticed the detail within minutes, and screenshots multiplied without stopping. For the vast majority of fans, the gesture represented an unmistakable sign of dissatisfaction toward Scaloni for leaving him out of the most decisive match of the world tournament.

"The Bull's" statement on Instagram

This episode adds to the public statement issued by the player himself hours earlier on his Instagram profile, reported by media outlets such as La Tercera and América Deportes. In that post, the Bahía Blanca striker had hinted at his discomfort with a phrase as subtle as it was cutting, directed at the coaching staff.

"We tried. For the second World Cup in a row we reached a world final, this time it wasn't to be. I feel so much pride in being Argentine. I would have liked to try to help the team yesterday on the field, but oh well," wrote the striker, revealing the helplessness of not having come on in extra time against the Spanish side.

The fans' bewilderment stemmed from the remarkable offensive form Martínez had been carrying throughout the tournament. With crucial goals against Jordan in the group stage and decisive strikes in the knockout rounds against Switzerland and England, the Inter forward had been key in taking the team to the big occasion.

Impact on the international press

Various outlets such as La Voz del Interior and El Litoral echoed the pain that overwhelmed the forward after the final whistle. Cameras from the official broadcast captured the footballer heartbroken on the pitch, crying in his teammates' arms after having watched the entire match without wearing the jersey on the field.

Likewise, the footballer's inner circle expressed unconditional support. His wife, Agustina Gandolfo, shared heartfelt messages on digital platforms to support the striker, revealing the pent-up frustration after months of intense preparation for the World Cup event.

Up to the date of the match, the rotation between Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez had been one of the hallmarks of the Scaloni era. However, in the decisive clash the strategist opted for alternative setups and changes that completely excluded the Inter striker from the attacking rotation.

Although Martínez did not offer any further statements to justify his social media interaction, the fallout was widespread across the entire continent. The controversial "like" reopened an unexpected rift surrounding Scaloni's leadership and leaves up in the air how the relationship between the goalscoring figure and the coaching staff will be restructured in future national team fixtures.