Messi Endorses Lautaro MartÃnez for Ballon d'Or After Spectacular Season
Lionel Messi, Argentina's captain, has publicly backed Lautaro MartÃnez for the prestigious Ballon d'Or award. Following Argentina’s dominant 6-0 victory over Bolivia, Messi praised MartÃnez for his remarkable performances throughout the year.
“Lautaro had a spectacular year," Messi said. "He scored in the [Copa America] Final and was the top scorer. He deserves the Ballon d'Or more than anyone else.”
MartÃnez, who played a key role in helping Inter Milan win the Serie A title, finished the season as the league’s top scorer. Additionally, he scored the winning goal for Argentina in the Copa America, cementing his status as one of the world’s best strikers.
On the other hand, VinÃcius Júnior, widely considered the frontrunner for the award, also had an exceptional season. The Real Madrid star led his team to victories in both La Liga and the UEFA Champions League, scoring a decisive goal in the Champions League final. He was also named UEFA Player of the Year.
With both players boasting outstanding seasons, the race for the Ballon d'Or is heating up. While VinÃcius is the favorite, Messi’s endorsement of MartÃnez adds another layer of intrigue to the competition.