Big performances in the Champions League could be the missing piece for Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez to win the Ballon D’Or.
This is the view in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews.
Martinez is now a player whose name is in the mix for the Ballon D’Or.
The 26-year-old had already had an outstanding season at club level with Inter.
Martinez captained the Nerazzurri to a dominant Serie A title victory. And he also finished the campaign as not just Inter’s but all of Serie A’s top scorer.
And Martinez has capped it off with Argentina at the Copa America.
The Inter captain has been the decisive force as the Albiceleste have won yet another Copa.
Martinez scored five goals off the bench to power Argentine to the trophy.
These included a late winner against Chile in the group stage, and most importantly of all, the extra time winner against Colombia in a 1-0 victory in the final.
Champions League The Missing Piece For Lautaro Martinez To Win Ballon D’Or?
In Serie A and with his national team, there is not much more Martinez could do to put his name in the hat for the Ballon D’Or.
But there is one competition in which the Argentine’s performances have not been up to a Ballon D’Or level.
The Gazzetta note that Martinez has played 44 matches in the Champions League. And scored twelve goals between them.
There have certainly been some standout moments for the Inter captain.
Martinez’s clinching goal against AC Milan in the semifinal derby of the 2022-23 season was certainly one. As were some excellent displays against Barcelona in a couple different matches.
But last season, Martinez had quiet nights in both legs of Inter’s round of sixteen tie against Atletico Madrid.
That tie saw Inter dumped out of Europe’s top club competition in disappointing fashion. And truthfully, were emblematic of Martinez’s standard of performances in Europe.
If Martinez can have the kind of impact he did this summer, though, it would become harder than ever to overlook him when the time comes to select the winner of the Ballon D’Or.
