The switch took place on November 26, in the 63rd minute of the match between Argentina and Mexico.

Aligned for an hour alongside Messi in attack, Lautaro Martinez failed to be dangerous when Julian Alvarez took his place on the lawn.

Immediately, the Albiceleste multiplies the opportunities.

Messi opened the scoring a minute later (64th), and the young Enzo Fernandez sealed the 2-0 at the end of the game.

It was at this precise moment that the World Cup of the "Toro" Lautaro began to decline, and that of the "Spider" Alvarez, to take off.

Lautaro, on his hunger

Albiceleste attacking figure for four years alongside Messi and Angel Di Maria, the Inter Milan striker has so far missed out on his World Cup.

He played 90 minutes in the opening defeat against Saudi Arabia, then an hour against Mexico, before being relegated to the bench.

Against Poland, it was he who replaced Julian Alvarez in the 79th minute, when the score was already 2-0.

The Argentinian was the starter for the entry of Albiceleste, in the World Cup-2022 in Qatar, against Saudi Arabia, November 22, 2022 © Odd ANDERSEN / AFP

And the same against Australia in the round of 16 (2-1), where he succeeded his young compatriot in the 71st minute, with the match already folded.

Despite three perfect balls slipped by Messi at the end of the game, he was unable to convert them into goals.

"Lautaro, for us, he is super important. He is a striker, he lives for goals. It is important that he is good for what happens", encouraged Messi after qualifying for the quarters.

One more frustration for the 25-year-old striker, who is participating in his first World Cup, after the disappointment of 2018.

Present in the pre-list of Jorge Sampaoli, he had not been called to take part in the adventure in Russia.

One of the most controversial decisions of the former Argentine coach.

But after making the leap to Europe, Lautaro made his mark in selection with Scaloni: at the Copa America, won in 2021 by the Argentines, he scored three goals, including one in the quarters against Ecuador and one in the semi-final against Colombia, to finish as the tournament's third top scorer.

Lautaro Martinez in discussion with Lionel Messi after Argentina's victory against Poland at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, November 30, 2022 © Odd ANDERSEN / AFP

In club too, he gained responsibilities after the injury of Romelu Lukaku at the start of the season.

He was one of the goalscorers in the crucial 3-3 at Camp Nou to eliminate FC Barcelona from the Champions League, and remains his team's top scorer in the league, with seven goals since the start of the season.

Alvarez, devouring

On Wednesday, in the eleven tested by coach Scaloni in training, it was still Julian Alvarez who took the place of Lautaro Martinez alongside Messi and Di Maria.

Arrived at Manchester City in January for 22 M EUR from River Plate, the young striker (22 years old) has the same role in club and selection: replacing Erling Haaland in England, and Lautaro Martinez in Argentina.

But everywhere, he shakes up the codes.

Since the start of the season, he has already scored seven goals and two assists with City, while he starts most matches on the bench.

Julian Alvarez celebrates after scoring Argentina's second goal against Australia in the round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, December 3, 2022 © MANAN VATSYAYANA / AFP

And in Qatar, he is unleashed: it was he who sheltered Argentina against Poland, by converting a pass in the box from Enzo Fernandez, his ex-teammate at River (67th).

And also against Australia, by intercepting a hazardous ball before pushing it to the bottom of the cages (57th).

Dormant experience or youthful freshness, who will be the coach's choice for the clash against the Netherlands?

"It's perfect that Julian scores goals. Lautaro will also score," swept Scaloni after qualifying for the quarter-finals.

© 2022 AFP