Inter Milan Captain & Argentina Copa America Hero Among Favourites For 2024 Ballon D’Or | OneFootball

Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez is among the favourites to win the Ballon D’Or in 2024 following his heroics at the Copa America.

This according to today’s print edition of French newspaper L’Equipe, via FCInterNews. They name the Argentine among the four favourites to be awarded the title along with Rodri, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Junior.

This summer was always likely to play a decisive role in determining which players would be in contention for the Ballon D’Or.

In an international tournament summer, there is always an outsized importance to tournament matches.

In that sense, for example, England pair Harry Kane and Phil Foden’s candidacies for the Ballon D’Or sunk like a stone after they failed to follow up excellent club seasons with much impact for England at the Euros.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham did have one standout moment in an England shirt.

For L’Equipe, that is enough to put the former Borussia Dortmund man in contention for the Ballon D’Or. Along with his key role in Real Madrid winning La Liga and the Champions League.

Another player who was key to Real Madrid’s stellar season was winger Vinicius Junior.

The Brazilian could not follow it up with his country at the Copa America, however.

But still, Vinicius’s form for Real is enough to put him in strong contention for at least a podium finish in the view of L’Equipe.

Lautaro Martinez Among Four Favourites For Ballon D’Or

Then there are the players whose stock rose in the Ballon D’Or stakes this summer.

One is Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri.

The 28-year-old has been the beating heart for City in yet another Premier League triumph. There is a lack of the Champions League and FA Cup as in the 2022-23 season, however.

And Rodri was also named as the player of the tournament at EURO 2024 as Spain lifted the trophy.

Likewise, Inter captain Lautaro Martinez was the outstanding player at the Copa America this summer.

The 26-year-old was not even a regular starter for Albiceleste. Rather, he came off the bench in four out of the Albiceleste’s matches.

But Martinez well and truly made his appearances count.

The Inter captain scored five goals in six matches. These included a later winner against Chile in the group stage in a 1-0 victory. And even more importantly, the only goal in a 1-0 win over Colombia in the final.

Martinez’s shining Copa America caps off a campaign in which he captained Inter to the Serie A title.

The Argentine was the top scorer in the Italian top flight as the Nerazzurri won the title in dominant fashion.

Therefore, as with Rodri, the balance of club and international success puts Martinez in contention for the Ballon D’Or.