The agent of Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez has defended his flat World Cup with Argentina.

Lautaro has found himself benched and outshone by Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez.

"He arrived at the World Cup with severe ankle pain," said agent Alejandro Camano.

"In this World Cup, every game he played, he had to infiltrate with painkillers. He did not want to leak it to the media. But today he told me that now he feels perfect."

Argentina meet Holland in the World Cup quarterfinal.