Argentina’s captain, Lionel Messi, has publicly endorsed his teammate, Lautaro Martinez, as the deserving recipient of this year’s Ballon d’Or award.
Lautaro Martinez stands out among the 30 nominees for this coveted prize, competing alongside notable players such as Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, Rodri, and Dani Carvajal.
With the award ceremony fast approaching in just 12 days, Messi has taken the opportunity to express his views on who should succeed him as the winner.
The Inter Miami star, who made history last year by clinching an astonishing eighth Ballon d’Or, will not be in contention to defend the award this time around. 
Instead, Messi has chosen to throw his weight behind Martinez, who has previously ranked 21st and 20th in the Ballon d’Or standings in 2021 and 2023, respectively.
Martinez, the 27-year-old forward, delivered a remarkable performance last season, during which he found the back of the net 27 times and contributed seven assists across a total of 44 matches in all competitions. His impressive tally included 24 goals and six assists in Serie A, helping Inter Milan secure the Scudetto.
In addition to his league success, Martinez played a pivotal role in the Supercoppa Italiana, where he scored once and provided an assist, contributing significantly to the team’s triumph.
Reflecting on his teammate’s accomplishments, Messi remarked, “He had a spectacular year; he scored in the final and was the top scorer in the Copa America. He deserves the Ballon d’Or more than anyone else.”
The post Lionel Messi Reveals Why Lautaro Martinez Deserves 2024 Ballon d’Or appeared first on Naija News.
