Inter forward Lautaro Martinez names Achraf Hakimi, Ousmane Dembélé, and Mohamed Salah as his Ballon d’Or favorites.
Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez has expressed his opinions on the Ballon d’Or, naming Achraf Hakimi, Ousmane Dembélé, and Mohamed Salah as his top choices for the award.
In a recent interview with France Football, Martinez highlighted PSG’s strong representation, saying, “PSG have several candidates and any one of them could win it. Hakimi, Dembélé.” He also praised Salah’s impressive season in the Premier League.
Martinez himself is a contender for the Ballon d’Or and confidently places himself among the top five strikers in the world. “I’m in the top five, definitely,” he stated, emphasizing his achievements in recent years. Although he declined to name specific players, he is very confident in his abilities.
The Argentine forward finished seventh in the 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings and had expressed expectations of a higher placement. “I expected to be ranked higher after finishing as Serie A’s top scorer and player, winning Copa America with five goals, including the winning goal in the final,” Martinez said.
Lionel Messi, Martinez’s compatriot, believes the Inter striker “deserves the Ballon d’Or more than anyone” after his spectacular year. Martinez’s performances for both club and country have been impressive, making a strong case for his Ballon d’Or aspirations.
The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled to take place on September 22 in Paris, with Martinez and other top players vying for the prestigious award. As the event approaches, the anticipation and speculation surrounding the winner continue to build.
