“He Deserves That” – As Lionel Messi Gets Close to His 8th Ballon D’Or, Inter Milan Boss States 26YO Argentina Star is Equally Worthy of the Honor

Only a few names resonate as profoundly as Lionel Messi. The Argentine maestro is no stranger to honors and accolades. As the 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony approaches, whispers about Lionel Messi clinching his record-eighth Ballon d’Or are becoming louder. However, amidst this buzz, Serie A giants Inter Milan’s boss has made a compelling case for another Argentine star to share the spotlight alongside Messi.

While Lionel Messi is on the cusp of claiming his coveted golden ball, the Inter Milan boss registers a twist in the tale, as he commends the journey of the 26-year-old Argentine star and delivers his final verdict.

Inter Milan’s boss resolute belief in the Argentine star

Amid the excitement surrounding Messi’s potentially record-breaking Ballon d’Or win, the emergence of Inter Milan and Argentina striker Lautaro Martinez is nothing short of astonishing. Inter Milan head coach Simone Inzaghi sees Martinez’s brilliance up close regularly at Inter Milan. Speaking ahead of Inter Milan’s Champions League clash against RB Salzburg, Inzaghi revealed his stance on this year’s Ballon d’Or race. Although Lionel Messi is leading the charts for this coveted title, the Italian manager expressed his resolute belief in the 26-year-old Inter Milan striker.

Simone Inzaghi, not the one to understate Martinez’s achievements, declared boldly, “Lautaro for Ballon d’Or? Clearly yes. I don’t think he will win it, but he deserves to be there present that night. He deserves that for the trophies won and for what he has done with his journey.” Inzaghi’s comments shine a spotlight on Martinez’s brilliance with Inter Milan, as he emphasized that Martinez stands amongst the top players for Ballon d’Or.

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Although Lautaro Martinez is not among the favorites to claim the Ballon d’Or, his last season with his club and country has been nothing short of spectacular. The 26-year-old forward netted an impressive 28 goals and contributed 11 assists in 57 appearances across various competitions for Inter Milan last season. Notably, Martinez led his team to the Coppa Italia triumph, along with a runners-up place in the UEFA Champions League. His performance on the international stage is equally impressive, as Martinez won the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar with Argentina and Lionel Messi.

Martinez credits Lionel Messi for his good performance

Though Inzaghi believes that Martinez should rival Lionel Messi for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award, Martinez thinks otherwise, as he credits Messi for inspiration. As Martinez has been in a rich vein of form since last season for Inter Milan, he spoke about his admiration for Lionel Messi, from whom he learned a lot. “This season I have grown so much mentally. I have teammates who help me grow, I learned a lot from Leo Messi, and talking to him helped me in everything. Carrying that World Cup in your arms is special, I learned a lot about the leadership from him there.” The Inter Milan forward’s comments exude his admiration for the Argentina captain.

Inzaghi’s plea for Martinez isn’t without backing. As the club’s top scorer for two consecutive seasons, Martinez’s consistency and ability to deliver in high-stakes matches have been invaluable for Inter. Whether the Ballon d’Or finds a new candidate this year or remains with the Argentine maestro, the soccer world can agree on one thing – both Messi and Martinez are deserving of their places among soccer stars.

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