Inter Vice-President Javier Zanetti feels that Nerazzurri striker Lautaro Martinez would have had a different World Cup in Qatar had his goal against Saudi Arabia not been ruled out for offside.

Speaking to Argentine broadcaster TyC Sports, via FCInterNews, Zanetti gave the view that the 25-year-old could have had a much more successful tournament in front of goal had it gotten off to a different start.

Martinez will not care too much about his personal World Cup given that Argentina lifted the trophy, but the sense remains that he did not perform up to expectations in Qatar.

The Inter striker had been expected to be a key player for the Albiceleste, but finished the tournament without a goal or assist to his name.

Things could have been different for Martinez had the 25-year-old’s goal against Saudi Arabia in his country’s shock opening loss not been chalked off for an extremely narrow offside.

“Lautaro played through some physical problems,” Zanetti noted, “but he had some opportunities to score, which were complicated.”

“If one of his goals against Saudi Arabia had been given, he would have had a different World Cup, but that’s football and that’s fin,” he continued.

“The important thing was to have 26 players who could give the team a hand when called upon, and Lautaro took responsibility of taking the decisive penalty against the Netherlands, which he scored.”

“He’s very young,” Zanetti said of the Nerazzurri striker, “he has a lot ahead of him, he’s become a world champion in his first World Cup and he deserves to enjoy that.”

“He’s an extraordinary striker,” the Inter President added.