“I agree with Messi” - Yann Sommer picks 2024 Ballon d'Or winner
Inter Milan goalkeeper Yann Sommer was in agreement with Lionel Messi as he picked Lautaro Martinez to win the 2024 Ballon d'Or. Martinez and Sommer have been teammates for the Serie A side since 2023, sharing the pitch 47 times so far.
Lautaro Martinez was one of the most consistent players in the 2023-24 football season, recording 36 goals and eight assists across 54 appearances for club and country. The Argentine forward won the Serie A and the Supercoppa Italiana with Internazionale, alongside the Copa America with Argentina.
Martinez notably scored the winning goal for Argentina in extra-time (112') during their 1-0 victory over Colombia in the 2024 Copa America final. He also scored the winner during stoppage time (90+1') for Inter Milan in their 1-0 victory over Napoli in the Supercoppa Italiana final. Moreover, Martinez finished as the top scorer of the Serie A (24 goals) and the Copa America (5 goals).
Owing to his sensational numbers, Martinez's teammate Yann Sommer picked him to win the Ballon d'Or.
"I agree with Messi, Lautaro deserves to win the Ballon d'Or," Sommer said (via All About Argentina on X).
Earlier this week after Argentina's 6-0 game against Bolivia, Lionel Messi had named Lautaro Martinez as the player who deserved to win the Ballon d'Or this year. He told Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport (via Eurosport):
“[Lautaro] 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.”
Apart from Lautaro Martinez, Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr and Manchester City's Rodri are also among the favorites to win the Ballon d'Or. The coveted award will be given on October 28 in Paris.
Lionel Messi did not make it to the 30-man shortlist for the 2024 Men's Ballon d'Or
Lionel Messi holds the record for winning the most Ballons d'Or in history, with eight golden balls to his name. However, the legendary Argentine was left out of France Football's 30-man shortlist for the coveted award in 2024.
In the summer of 2023, Messi left Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) as a free agent to join MLS side Inter Miami. He led the Herons to their first-ever trophy in the 2023 Leagues Cup. The legendary forward also won the 2024 Copa America with Argentina.
This season, La Pulga has recorded 19 goals and 12 assists in 21 appearances across competitions for Inter Miami. The Albiceleste star was sidelined for two months after picking up an ankle injury during the 2024 Copa America final in July. He returned to the pitch in September.
The Inter Miami star has been nominated for the Ballon d'Or 16 times in his career, with the first nomination in 2006. 2024 marks the second time that the Argentine superstar did not make it to the shortlist after 2022, when he had a poor season with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).