Lionel Messi Backs Lautaro Martinez for 2024 Ballon d'Or

In a surprising twist ahead of the 2024 Ballon d'Or ceremony, Lionel Messi has endorsed his fellow Argentine Lautaro Martinez as the deserving winner of the prestigious award. This announcement comes during a year in which neither Messi nor his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo appears on the shortlist for the first time since 2003. The two football icons have dominated the Ballon d'Or landscape for over a decade, with 13 awards between them since 2008, interrupted only by Luka Modric in 2018 and Karim Benzema in 2022.

Messi's support for Martinez follows an impressive year for the Inter Milan striker, who played a crucial role in Argentina's Copa America victory. After scoring a hat-trick in Argentina's recent 6-0 win over Bolivia, Messi praised Martinez, stating, “Lautaro deserves the Ballon d'Or more than anyone. He had a spectacular year, he scored a goal in the Copa America final, he was the top scorer in Copa America.”

Martinez himself has expressed humility regarding the accolade, acknowledging his outstanding performance over the past year while also downplaying his chances of winning. He reflected, “I don’t know if I deserve to win the Ballon d'Or but after the spectacular year I had, I deserve to be up there.” As the football world awaits the announcement of the winner, Messi's endorsement could sway opinions in favor of Martinez, who has enjoyed a stellar season with both club and country.