Lionel Messi Didn’t Hesitate When Naming Best Player In Soccer This Year

No player in the history of soccer has won the Ballon d'Or more times than Argentina and Inter Miami star Lionel Messi .

Messi won his eighth "Golden Ball" in 2023, but he was left off the shortlist of 30 nominees for the 2024 edition after an injury-riddled season for club and country.

Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé, Rodri, Lamine Yamal and Erling Haaland headline the 2024 finalists. It will be the just the third time since 2008 that a player not named Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo will win the award, as both missed the cut.

After Tuesday's vintage performance , featuring a hat trick and two assists in a 6-0 win over Bolivia, the Argentinian captain made his opinion clear on the player who should take home the Ballon d'Or on Oct. 28.

The individual award has been presented annually by France Football since 1956 to the best player from the previous season.

UEFA, European soccer's governing body that will begin co-organizing the award in 2024, calls it "the most distinguished accolade a footballer can receive."

Messi overlooked Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior, who is the heavy favorite at 1/8 odds after Marca leaked him as the winner, in favor of one of his national teammates, Lautaro Martínez.

"Lautaro deserves the Ballon d’Or more than anyone else," Messi told Alfredo Pedulla of TyC Sports. "He had a spectacular year, he scored in the final, and he was the top scorer in the Copa America.”

Martínez scored 27 goals across all competitions for Italian champions Inter Milan last season. His five goals were the most by any player at Copa America 2024, none more important than his extra-time winner give Argentina a 1-0 win in the final.

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