The 26-year-old Argentine and Inter striker Lautaro Martinez has claimed that Al Nassr star Ronaldo, who has won the Ballon d'Or on five occasions, was the only player stopping Messi winning this accolade many, many more times.
Lionel Messi won his eighth Ballon d'Or on Monday night, edging out Manchester City's Erling Haaland and Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe. Before the 36-year-old picked up another gong, compatriot Lautaro Martinez, who came 20th on the list following his successful 2022/23 season with Inter and his country, made a striking claim about the Inter Miami star.
He told ESPN before the ceremony: “He [Messi] had to share this era with Cristiano Ronaldo, otherwise he would have won the Ballon d'Or 15 times.”
During his round of interviews in the mixed zone, Lautaro also spoke to Spanish Twitcher Ibai Llanos who asked the Nerazzurri forward if he was really close to joining Real Madrid last summer.
“We are talking about a very important club, but my thoughts are only for Inter,” El Toro replied.
“I am really happy there, I have a contract and my family is happy in Milan. This is a special night for me, so I thank Inter and the Argentinean national team. I hope I can take Inter as high as possible in 2024 and represent Argentina in the best possible way. I want to win titles, this is what sport is about.”
Lautaro is under contract with Inter until June 2026, but the Nerazzurri CEO Beppe Marotta has recently confirmed that the 26-year-old wants to stay at the club, so he will soon be offered a new contract.
Lautaro is the current Serie A leading scorer with 11 goals in 10 appearances.
niblty
731
If winning a World Cup gets you the ballon d or Mbappe should’ve won it last time around
Doxmang
647
❤️🐐⭐Antonella will become the first woman to touch 8 ballon d’ors😂😂😂 I know your favorite be dreaming about this all his life lol 😂😂😂😂😂 Infinity successful Family 😃🔥🌹🙌🤝👑💯✍️
Rumawa
613
Yea, but even with Ronaldo he won 8, which is the infinity. Ronaldo is nothing, compared to mighty Messi
Mosanya
542
Messi is the GOAT of all goats. 💍Jordan 6 rings 💍Brady 7 rings 💍Messi 8 rings
EdisonBaby
538
look how accurately Johan Cruyff predicted this
Nostress9
469
Barcelona 💙💙💙
Wagnewt
443
They augmented each other to dare more. it's sad that this era has come to an end, Living Legends!
Buoenoprt
324
after he gone to america no one heard of his name that is why organizer try to realise his name from vanish 🤣🤣🤣
Suah-K-FCB
306
King Of Dors
faecelsuyz
294
Cr7 the world loves and knows that you are the best but the minority of people who are full of envy keeps giving one person for nothing..
1-InABillion✓
235
As a Messi fan Haaland deserves to see Messi lifting the Ballon d'or GOA8 Messi is INFINITY ♾️💯👑🐐🔥
Nostress9
214
💙
Doxmang
198
✨ Messi: “Haaland and Mbappé will win the Ballon d’Or one day”. “Erling deserved it very much too, he has won Premier League, Champions League while being the top scorer of everything. This award could have been yours today too…”. “I’m sure in the next years you will win it”.Nice encourage words from the Number 1 Legend of the Game 🙌⭐🫅🔥🐐🌹🤝👉
Gaelndala
164
so they gave him again??.. and this time they even choose his president to give it to him.... so funny
vst
151
this is ballon d'or for individual performance not a team work were you need De brune
Nostress9
75
Goat💙
Harshit1
23
If winning a World Cup gets you the ballon d or Mbappe should’ve won it last time around
Being the Best player in the tournament wins you the Balon D'or, That's why Modric won it. And this time Messi.
vst
17
If winning a World Cup gets you the ballon d or Mbappe should’ve won it last time around
it's not winning the world.. it's about becoming a best player in the world cup remember modriçh
Duaciklnt
15
If winning a World Cup gets you the ballon d or Mbappe should’ve won it last time around
not just winning the world cup bro but persistent in overall performance in the tournament know the difference
coaaeklmop
14
If winning a World Cup gets you the ballon d or Mbappe should’ve won it last time around
Lmfao mbappe wasn't even the best player in 2018
bataceny
13
If winning a World Cup gets you the ballon d or Mbappe should’ve won it last time around
Haha you have little understanding of the game!!! Did Mbappe carried that French team? He wasn’t the best in that team besides Varane win both World Cup and Champions league that year but he was not the main man in any of those teams Besides your voice doesn’t matter.
Football_Messi
12
so they gave him again??.. and this time they even choose his president to give it to him.... so funny
u guys literally embarrass Ronaldo n urself.. I just find it so funny whenever I imagine of u guys.. just be neutralize n think about urself how pathetic is the situation is for u ppl
The_Truth
8
If winning a World Cup gets you the ballon d or Mbappe should’ve won it last time around
There are always a bunch of fools who speak without thinking, or maybe they are too dumb or can't admit the fact that Messi is a clear winner. Ballondor criteria have already been changed a few times, and according to that, they choose the winner. It was purely based on trophies and then individual performance until 2013. Inesta didn't win the Golden Ball in 2010, nor was he the best player for Barca as he was injured for half of the season. Meanwhile, Messi was the UEFA best player and UCL best player with the best G/A in Europe while winning multiple trophies with Barca. Even after considering WC, inesta wasn't a challenge for Messi. Then, in 2013, as the rules completely changed to Performance, Ronaldo won it by zero major trophies while Ribery didn't get anything despite being the best Bundesliga player and winning UCL with other trophies. So there have always been debates, and here Messi has 67GA aganist Halland's 66 and Won WC along with being the clubs best playmaker and won playmaker of the year award and WC Golden Ball the record 2nd time which no player ever has. Meanwhile, Halland ghosted in all the big games of the season as well. So there is no point in arguing. If you still disagree, they please donate your tears [Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]