As the Ballon d’Or ceremony draws near, Lionel Messi, an eight-time winner, has publicly voiced his support for Argentina's Lautaro Martinez. This comes amidst growing speculation that Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior could be the frontrunner for the prestigious award.
On October 28, the football world will find out who will succeed Messi as the Ballon d’Or winner during the ceremony in Paris. While many, including Neymar and Ederson, have backed Vinicius Junior for his outstanding season, Messi and other Argentines, including coach Lionel Scaloni, are championing Lautaro Martinez.
Messi, following Argentina’s 6-0 victory over Bolivia in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, expressed his belief that Martinez deserves the award more than anyone else. "He had an incredible year, scored in the final, and was the top scorer of the Copa America. Lautaro deserves the Ballon d’Or, and if it doesn’t happen now, I’m sure it will in the future," Messi said in an interview with TyC Sports.
While many see Vinicius as the favorite due to his excellent performances with Real Madrid, Messi's endorsement of Martinez adds another layer of intrigue as the football world eagerly awaits the announcement.