Inter Milan’s captain Lautaro Martinez has departed from the Argentina national team after medical examinations revealed his muscle injury to be significantly more severe than initially assessed.

The forward was originally expected to remain with the squad, hoping to recover in time for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifier against Brazil on Wednesday, despite missing the previous match against Uruguay.

However, it was announced this evening that Martinez has been sent back to Italy for further evaluation by Inter Milan’s medical staff.

Martinez Diagnosed with Hamstring Injury

An official statement confirms that Martinez has been diagnosed with a muscular lesion in his lower left hamstring. This injury appears to be much more serious than previously thought and could potentially jeopardize his participation in the crucial Champions League quarter-final matches against Bayern Munich.

Martinez is the second Inter Milan striker to leave international duty due to injury, following Marcus Thuram’s early departure from the French camp ahead of their Nations League quarter-finals due to an ankle problem.