Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez has been tipped to contend for the Ballon D’Or if the Nerazzurri can win the Champions League final vs Man City.
This is the view in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews.
If Martinez can manage to lead Inter to victory over City on Saturday, that would make it four trophies this season. Three with the Nerazzurri, and one with Argentina.
The 25-year-old has been hitting some of his best form right at the decisive moment in the season.
He has already played a key role in Inter winning the Coppa Italia with his brace in a 2-1 comeback over Fiorentina.
However, none of what Martinez has done yet quite puts the striker in contention for world football’s top individual honour.
Lautaro Martinez To Push For Football’s Biggest Individual Prize Vs Man City
That could change for the Argentine against City on Saturday, however.
If the Inter striker can put in a great individual performance and help his team to lift the Champions League trophy, he’ll have gone some way towards proving himself on the biggest stage.
The 25-year-old has already been an important player for Inter in Serie A, even if the team’s season as a whole has been disappointing.
Meanwhile, with Argentina Martinez played something of a peripheral role compared to expectations at the World Cup. Still, the Nerazzurri striker did have his say in the latter stages of the competition.
Martinez scored the winning penalty in a quarterfinal shootout win over Argentine. Then, in the final, he set up Lionel Messi’s stoppage time goal in a dramatic shootout victory over France.
Against City, Martinez will be hungry to prove himself against the most formidable of opposition.
And, if he manages to do so, the Gazzetta suggest that shouts for the Ballon D’Or can’t be that far away.
