Lionel Messi reveals his surprise choice for Ballon D'Or 2024 in snub to main contenders

Lionel Messi has named fellow Argentina star Lautaro Martinez as the player who should win the Ballon D'Or in 2024.

This year is the first time in more than two decades (2003) that neither Messi nor his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo have found themselves on the shortlist for football's ultimate individual prize.

Between them Messi and Ronaldo have scooped the Ballon D'Or on 13 occasions since 2008, dominating the award for the past 16 years. Their duopoly has only been broken up by Luka Modric in 2018 and Karim Benzema in 2022.

The main candidates for the 2024 prize are Vinicius Jr of Real Madrid and Manchester City's Spanish star Rodri, with Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal and Lamine Yamal also on the shortlist.

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However, Messi believes Inter and Argentina striker Martinez warrants recognition. Speaking to TYC Sports after scoring a hat-trick for his country in their 6-0 demolition of Bolivia, the legendary forward explained his reasoning.

He said: “Lautaro deserves the Ballon D’Or more than anyone. He had a spectacular year, he scored a goal in the [Copa America] final, he was the top scorer in Copa America.”

Martinez himself, who scored 24 goals and notched six assists in 33 appearances in last year’s Serie A, was fairly modest about his chances.

He said: “I don’t know if I deserve to win the Ballon D’Or but after the spectacular year I had I deserve to be up there”