Lautaro Martinez credits Lionel Messi for shaping his leadership skills

Inter Milan’s star forward, Lautaro Martinez, has attributed his growth as a player to the mentorship and guidance provided by Argentine football legend Lionel Messi.

Martinez revealed that he learned valuable leadership qualities from Messi, particularly during Argentina’s victorious campaign in the 2022 FIFA World Cup held in Qatar.

Speaking after Inter Milan’s 1-0 triumph over AC Milan in the Champions League semi-final second-leg tie at San Siro, Martinez expressed his gratitude towards Messi for his significant impact on his development as a player.

The 25-year-old striker, who captained Simone Inzaghi’s side, played a pivotal role in Inter Milan’s victory, netting the winning goal that secured their place in the final with a commanding 3-0 aggregate win, following their 2-0 triumph in the first leg.

Martinez acknowledged that Messi’s influence extended beyond technical skills, noting that the seasoned playmaker played an instrumental role in shaping his leadership abilities.

The Argentine forward spoke highly of Messi’s guidance, highlighting the positive impact it has had on his overall game.

He said; “This season I have grown so much mentally. I have teammates who help me grow, I learned a lot from Leo Messi, talking to him, he helped me in everything.

“Carrying that World Cup in your arms is special, I learned a lot about the leadership from him there.

“Being a captain is special, today’s evening will remain for a lifetime for me.”