Lionel Messi, the captain of the Argentine national team and MLS club Inter Miami, believes that his national teammate Lautaro Martinez should be awarded the Ballon d'Or at the end of this year.
Messi was quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport:
He’s had a spectacular year. He scored in the [Copa America] Final and was the best scorer. He deserves the Ballon d’Or more than anyone else.
By the end of 2024, Lautaro Martinez has earned gold medals in the Italian championship with Milan's Inter and became the top scorer of Serie A for the 2023/2024 season. He also contributed to Argentina's triumph in the Copa America, where he finished as the tournament's leading goal scorer.
The Ballon d'Or ceremony is set to take place on October 28 in Paris at the Théâtre du Châtelet.