Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez has expressed his disappointment over his seventh-place finish in the Ballon d’Or ranking.
Despite being a notable achievement, Martinez felt he deserved better recognition.
Martinez’s impressive 2022-2023 season included leading Inter Milan to the Serie A title as captain and top scorer.
He also played a crucial role in Argentina’s Copa America victory, scoring the winning goal in the final against Colombia.
The 27-year-old Argentine forward openly shared his discontent, stating, “I honestly expected more. As I always say, I play for Inter, for Argentina. But sometimes, these awards aren’t decided in the right way.”
Martinez’s comments suggest he felt underrated and overlooked for his exceptional performances.
His achievements warrant consideration for the podium, particularly given his influential role in Argentina’s Copa America triumph.
While Martinez’s snub hasn’t sparked widespread controversy like selection of Manchester City’s Rodri over Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr., it highlights the subjective nature of the Ballon d’Or voting process.
The Ballon d’Or voting process has long been shrouded in mystery, with a panel of experts deciding the winner.
In addition to Martinez’s remarks, the contributions of well-known figures such as Zinedine Zidane and Karim Benzema have further fueled the debate on the legitimacy and impartiality of the award.
Marco Materazzi Backs Martinez For Higher Ballon d’Or Ranking
Former Inter Milan and Italy defender Marco Materazzi has voiced his support for Lautaro Martinez’s Ballon d’Or ranking, believing the Inter captain deserved a top-five spot.
In an interview with Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, Materazzi expressed his surprise at Martinez’s seventh-place finish.
Materazzi stated: “Certainly, I would have put him in the top five.”
Materazzi clarified that his opinion wasn’t a criticism of other nominees, such as Rodri or Carvajal, who won the Champions League and Euros.
However, he emphasized Martinez’s impressive trophy haul with Inter and Argentina, warranting higher recognition.
Materazzi noted: “Lautaro also won trophies. He did so with Inter and Argentina. He’s right to say that he expected a higher finish.”
Materazzi questioned the voting process, suggesting that sometimes the decision-makers follow “bizarre” reasoning.
Materazzi belittles Ballon d’Or importance
The 2006 World Cup winner, Materazzi downplayed the significance of the Ballon d’Or, emphasizing the value of winning trophies with one’s club and country.
Materazzi argued:”What really has value is defined by the club you win trophies with. He won a World Cup and two Copa Americas, the second one as the top scorer at the tournament.”
The former defender drew from his own experience, recalling his World Cup victory with Italy in 2006.
Despite not finishing in the top fifty for the Ballon d’Or, Materazzi remained proud of his accomplishments.
When asked if he was disappointed by his own Ballon d’Or snub Materazzi replied: “Honestly, no.”
“I won everything in an Inter shirt. I won the World Cup with the National team. I certainly wouldn’t trade away any of the trophies that I won during my career.”
Materazzi’s endorsement adds weight to Martinez’s disappointment, sparking further debate about the Ballon d’Or voting process.
What’s your take on this? Should Lautaro Martinez have finished higher than 7th in Ballon d’Or ranking? Please, share your thoughts with us in the comments box below:
