Lautaro Martínez scored two goals and Argentina finished their Copa America group stage with a 2-0 win against Peru on Saturday night.
Martínez got his first goal in the 47th minute thanks to a good pass from Ángel Di María. After scoring, Martínez hugged Messi, who was near Argentina’s bench.
“I hugged Leo to show him how much he means to us,” Martínez said through an interpreter.
Martínez scored again in the 86th minute, making him the tournament’s top scorer with four goals.
“Every time I wear this shirt I enjoy it,” Martínez said. “Many players want to wear it. I work hard to prove to the coach that I’m ready to play when he needs me.”
Messi didn’t play because he’s recovering from a leg injury he got in Argentina’s 1-0 win over Chile on Tuesday, which secured a place in the quarterfinals for the defending champions.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni couldn’t be there because he was suspended for his team coming back late in the second half of their last two Copa matches.
Argentina assistant Walter Samuel, who took Scaloni’s place, said after the match that Messi’s condition is still being evaluated day by day.
