Some goals win football matches. Others become part of football folklore.

Lautaro Martinez's dramatic injury-time winner against England did more than book Argentina's place in the World Cup final—it fulfilled a prediction he made before stepping onto the pitch.

The Inter Milan striker said after the match he told teammates Alexis Mac Allister and Facundo Medina he would score if given the opportunity. And minutes later that prediction came true.

"I dreamt it," Martinez said after Argentina's thrilling 2-1 victory. "I told Alexis that I was going to score. I also said on the bench to Facundo Medina that I would come on and score."

The reigning world champions looked destined for heartbreak, trailing 1-0 deep into the second half at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Head coach Lionel Scaloni made a bold attacking move by substituting left-back Nicolas Tagliafico for Martinez in the 81st minute.

The gamble paid off almost straight away.

Lionel Messi had earlier equalised, setting up Enzo Fernandez in the 85th minute to bring Argentina back into the contest. Then, in the second minute of added time, Messi created another moment of magic with a pinpoint cross which Martinez powered home with a towering header.

It was a goal that knocked England out of the tournament and led to wild celebrations among Argentina's players and fans.

It was even more emotional for Martinez.

"When my old man first bought me a pair of boots, I always dreamed of scoring this goal," he said, struggling to contain his emotions after the final whistle.

One of the first calls I made was to my mum, who was still at work when Argentina booked their place in another World Cup final,” the striker said later.

Martinez’s journey to this point has been anything but a straight line.

He began Argentina’s winning 2022 World Cup campaign but lost his place in the team during the tournament and watched much of the knockout stage from the bench. This time he played all three group stage games, scoring against Jordan, before returning to a sub role.

But time and again the 28-year-old has come up trumps when his country has needed him most.

He came off the bench to score in Argentina's extra-time win over Switzerland in the quarterfinals and repeated the trick with an even bigger goal against England in the semi-final.

Now, Argentina are one win away from defending the World Cup.

Spain, who are unbeaten in 38 games, stand in their way and the final will be a huge test of their confidence.

"We're going to face a top-class team," Martinez acknowledged. "They haven't lost in 38 games and they have outstanding players. Right now, we need to recover, but we also have to enjoy this moment because reaching another World Cup final as defending champions isn't easy."

The final will be played in New Jersey on Sunday in what promises to be one of the most eagerly-awaited encounters in World Cup history.

There is more intrigue to the meeting too after the planned Finalism between the two nations was postponed earlier this year because of the conflict in the Middle East.

Spain come into this fixture on an incredible run of unbeaten games stretching back to March 2024, but Argentina will be buoyed by their record of delivering on the biggest stage.

If Martinez's latest prediction is anything to go by, the reigning champions will not be short on belief going into football's biggest stage.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)