Lionel Messi has heaped praise on his Argentina teammate and Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez, stating that he deserves to win the Ballon d’Or “more than anyone else.” The comments came after Argentina’s 6-0 victory over Bolivia in a World Cup qualifier, where Messi scored a hat-trick and provided two assists.
Messi highlighted Martinez’s exceptional year, noting his crucial goal in the Copa America final and his status as the tournament’s top scorer. “He’s had a spectacular year. He scored in the final, was the top scorer in the Copa America – he deserves the Ballon d’Or more than anyone else,” Messi declared.
These sentiments echo those of Argentina’s coach Lionel Scaloni, who had previously endorsed Martinez for the prestigious award. Scaloni expressed hope for Martinez to win the Ballon d’Or, stating, “If it doesn’t come now, I’m sure it will come later.”
Martinez’s 2023-24 season has indeed been remarkable. He played over 50 matches for both Inter Milan and Argentina, claiming the top scorer title in Serie A with 24 goals in 33 appearances. He also finished as the leading goalscorer in the Copa America, netting 5 goals in 6 matches, including the decisive goal in extra time during the final against Colombia.
The only slight blemish on Martinez’s record was his performance in the Champions League, where he scored only twice in 8 matches and missed a crucial penalty against Atletico Madrid in the knockout stages.
When asked about his own future with the national team, Messi remained open-ended. “The truth is, I haven’t set a date or deadline. I’m enthusiastic about being here and feeling the love of the people because I know these could be the last times,” he said. Messi emphasized his desire to continue enjoying his time with the national team, taking it day by day and step by step.
