Ex AC Milan Midfielder Argues Inter Milan Captain ‘Would Be Right At Home In Top 5 Of Ballon D’Or Voting’ | OneFootball

Former AC Milan midfielder Massimo Ambrosini feels that Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez would be a suitable candidate for the top five in Ballon D’or voting.

Ambrosini was full of praise for the Argentine speaking to Oggi Sport Notizie, via FCInterNews.

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

The 27-year-old is one of two Nerazzurri players shortlisted, along with midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu.

It was no great surprise to see Martinez’s name on the list.

The Inter captain won the Serie A title in his first season with the armband last campaign. And he did so as not just Inter’s top scorer, but Serie A’s.

Martinez also guided Inter to the Supercoppa Italiana in January.

Then, in the summer, the Nerazzurri captain helped Argentina to win the Copa America.

Martinez was that tournament’s top scorer, with five goals. He scored the winner in the final against Colombia in extra time.

Ambrosini: “Lautaro Martinez Would Be Right At Home In Ballon D’Or Top Five”

The question now is whether Martinez will be in the higher reaches for the Ballon D’Or when the voting takes place.

Naturally, there are quite a few strong candidates for the honour.

The likes of Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Jr. are among the players widely tipped to potentially take home the honour.

But given not just his trophy haul, but his central importance for both club and country in such a successful year, Martinez could well be among them.

Former Milan midfielder Ambrosini thinks so. “He could be right at home in the top five,” he argued of Martinez.

“After Vinicius, Rodri, and Bellingham, I’d put Lautaro,” he argued. “They player that he’s become.”

Meanwhile, Ambrosini was also full of praise for Inter coach Simone Inzaghi.

“Simone is a coach of the highest level,” the former Milan midfielder said. “He knows how to improve players, and in recent years he’s been doing something extraordinary.”

“He deserves credit for creating the perfect footballing setup, where Calhanogly has become the perfect regista,” Ambrosini noted.