Frank Christian
In a recent statement, Lionel Messi has expressed his support for Argentine colleague Lautaro Martinez as the rightful recipient of the 2024 Ballon D’Or.
This marks a significant moment, as it is the first time in over 20 years that neither Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo, both legends of the sport, are included in the shortlist for this prestigious award.
Since 2008, Messi and Ronaldo have dominated the Ballon D’Or, winning it 13 times between them. The only interruptions in this era came from Luka Modric in 2018 and Karim Benzema in 2022.
Leading contenders for the upcoming award include Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr and Rodri from Manchester City, along with Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal, and Lamine Yamal also vying for recognition.
However, Messi firmly believes that Martinez, who plays for Inter Milan and the Argentine national team, deserves to be highlighted. Following a remarkable hat-trick in a recent match against Bolivia, Messi shared his thoughts with TYC Sports.
He stated, “Lautaro deserves the Ballon D’Or more than anyone. He had an exceptional year, scoring in the [Copa America] final and finishing as the tournament’s leading scorer.”
Martinez, who netted 24 goals and provided six assists in 33 Serie A outings last season, remains humble regarding his Ballon D’Or prospects.
He commented, “I’m not sure if I deserve the Ballon D’Or, but given my outstanding year, I feel I should be in the conversation.”
