When Lautaro Martinez arrived at Inter Milan in July 2018, he was a promising young striker, yet to taste silverware in club football, still carving out a place in Argentina's national team.

Fast forward to 2025, and Martinez stands as one of Inter's modern icons. He has collected an impressive haul of trophies: two Serie A titles (2020–21, 2023–24), three Italian Super Cups (2021, 2022, 2023), and two Coppa Italia triumphs (2021–22, 2022–23).

The UEFA Champions League remains the one major honour that has slipped through his fingers, with Inter narrowly missing out in the 2022–23 final against Manchester City.

Tonight (1am, Wednesday, Bangladesh time), the Black and Blues will aim to take a step closer to that elusive crown when they face German heavyweights Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.

Now club captain, Martinez is not only Inter's focal point in attack but also its emotional heartbeat. With the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 on the horizon, the Argentine striker is eager to lead the Italian champions into a new chapter as they aim for global success in the revamped tournament in the United States.

Drawn into Group E, Inter will face River Plate, CF Monterrey, and Urawa Red Diamonds, beginning their campaign on 17 June against Monterrey, who boast veteran Sergio Ramos in their ranks.

"I'm really excited at the prospect of featuring at the Club World Cup. Personally, it reminds me a lot of the World Cup… It's going to be amazing, because it's the first time this type of competition has been played under this format," Martinez told FIFA. 

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Martinez is also relishing the chance to square off against River Plate, a club he knows well from his time in Argentina:

"For sure. I obviously faced them when I played in Argentina, and they're a huge team back home…

"It'll be fun to play against them because I know a lot of their players. Some of my team-mates from the national team play for River Plate, so it'll be an enjoyable one to be involved in."

Inter's ambitions are clear, and Martinez left no doubt about the club's mindset:

"… for me, given the club's history and its size, Inter always have to be aiming to win silverware."

For Martinez, the secret behind Inter's enduring stature is simple – "passion":

"Inter are synonymous with passion… We've won a lot of silverware over the last few years… Winning trophies is the important thing and what makes Inter a great club in Italy and in world football, and hopefully we can keep it up."