Lautaro Martínez’s clinical finish in Argentina’s FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier against Paraguay (1-2) has propelled the Inter Milan forward into the illustrious top 10 of his national team’s all-time goal scorers.

Martínez now boasts 31 international goals, equaling the tallies of Ángel Di María and Gonzalo Higuaín. His next milestone? Catching the legendary Diego Maradona, who retired with 34 goals to his name. The climb becomes steeper from there, with Hernán Crespo sitting on 35 goals and Sergio Agüero on 41.

The true challenges lie at the summit of the list. Gabriel Batistuta, revered as one of the greatest forwards in Argentina’s history, tallied an impressive 56 goals during his career. At the very top, Lionel Messi’s seemingly insurmountable record of 112 international goals remains far beyond reach.

A Consistent Scoring Force

Since making his debut for La Albiceleste in 2018, Lautaro Martínez has become a vital component of Argentina’s attacking arsenal. His combination of clinical finishing and relentless work rate makes him one of the most dependable players under Lionel Scaloni’s management.

Eyes on the Future

At just 26 years old, Martínez still has plenty of time to climb further up the scoring charts. His performances for both club and country suggest he could become a central figure in Argentina's pursuit of more silverware after their FIFA World Cup triumph in 2022. Could Lautaro challenge Batistuta’s or even Messi’s historic records? While the latter may seem out of reach, his steady progress ensures he’ll remain a key player for Argentina for years to come.