Ballon D’Or Predictions – Could Inter Milan & Argentina Superstar Gatecrash Top Five? | OneFootball

Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez could break into the top five of Ballon D’Or voting for the first time this year.

This is the view in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews.

Inter captain Martinez is in the thirty-player shortlist for the Ballon D’Or this year.

That is already a major achievement in itself, and a testament to the level that the 27-year-old has reached with Inter and Argentina.

Martinez has been growing season on season as a striker and a player. And this year, he has established himself among the absolute elite in European football.

But Martinez may not stop there.

The Argentine could end up in the higher reaches of the Ballon D’Or voting, in the view of the Gazzetta.

Is Inter Milan Captain Lautaro Martinez Ready To Break Into The Ballon D’Or Top Five?

For the Gazzetta, actually winning the Ballon D’Or would be a bridge too far for Martinez.

There is basically no doubt that Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr. will win the award, the newspaper argues.

The fact that the 24-year-old was decisive in both winning La Liga and the Champions League with Real is the aspect that will make the difference.

But Martinez is not too far off, argues the Gazzetta.

The Inter captain may have suffered Champions League disappointment.

But Martinez led the Nerazzurri to the Serie A title in absolutely dominant fashion last season. He responded to the added responsibility of becoming captain with his best and most prolific campaign to date.

And then, importantly, Martinez succeeded with both club and country last season. That is always a factor that weighs heavily in Ballon D’Or voting.

The Inter captain was the top scorer at the Copa America. He scored in the final as Argentina beat Colombia.

In the view of the Gazzetta, there are a few other obvious candidates to round out the top five after Vinicius.

The likes of Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland won’t be too far off the top spot. Nor will Jude Bellingham.

And like Martinez, both Manchester City’s Rodri and Real Madrid’s Dani Carvajal won major trophies with both club and country. They won the Euros with Spain.

But Martinez will be right there among that group, predicts the Gazzetta.