Ballon d’Or: Gerardo Martino Believes Vinícius Júnior Deserves the honour, But Messi Remains the Best
In an exclusive interview, Inter Miami coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino shared his thoughts on the upcoming Ballon d’Or ceremony, crediting Vinícius Júnior with a phenomenal season at Real Madrid. However, the Argentine coach still considers Lionel Messi to be the best player in the world.
"It’s not clear to me whether the Ballon d’Or is for the best in the world or of the year," Martino said. "Vinícius Júnior probably has the merit [of being the best last season], although if you ask me who is the best right now, it’s Messi."
The 24-year-old Vinícius Júnior enjoyed an outstanding season, scoring 24 goals and providing 11 assists in all competitions, including the second goal in Real Madrid’s Champions League final win against Borussia Dortmund.
On the other hand, Messi, 37, was omitted from the Ballon d’Or nominations for the first time since 2003. Miami’s veteran defender Jordi Alba, who played alongside Messi at Barcelona, expressed his surprise and disappointment at the news.
"I have never given much importance to the Ballon d’Or, but for me, Leo always has to be there," Alba said. "He continues to make a difference, he is the best in the world without a doubt when being at the highest level."
While opinions on the Ballon d’Or are subjective, one thing is clear – Messi’s achievements on the pitch are unparalleled. The Argentina captain has won a record eight Ballon d’Or awards throughout his illustrious career.
Despite this, Martino still believes Júnior has a strong case for the award. "Vinícius Júnior has had an incredible season, and if I had to give him the award, I would," Martino said.
The duo is set to go head-to-head at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris on Monday. But according to Martino, Júnior’s contributions cannot be denied. "He has done incredibly well and deserves the recognition, but Messi is still the best in the world."
Stay up-to-date with all the latest news and opinions on the Ballon d’Or and international football by following us on all social media platforms!