Inter and Italy legend Marco Materazzi insists Lautaro Martinez deserved more than a 7th-place finish at the Ballon d’Or, but Leo Messi’s words are ‘more important.’
Lautaro Martinez did not hide his disappointment for finishing below the top five in the 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings earlier this week.
El Toro had won the 2023-24 Serie A campaign with Inter and the Copa America, with Argentina becoming the top scorer in both competitions.
Former Inter defender Materazzi, a 2010 treble winner, agrees that the Nerazzurri captain should have finished in a better position.
“Undoubtedly among the top five,” he told Gazzetta.
“Can’t complain about Rodri, who won the Champions League and the Euros, or Carvajal. But Lautaro has also won trophies with Inter and Argentina. He’s right when he says he expected more.
Materazzi shares Lautaro Martinez’s Ballon d’Or disappointment: ‘Messi more important’
“Let’s put it this way: sometimes, the jurors make bizarre decisions,” continued the 2006 Italy World Cup winner.
“I think the Ballon d’Or doesn’t count much. The real value is determined by the clubs with which you win trophies. And I would say that Lautaro is in a good position. He has won with Inter and Argentina, including a World Cup and two Copa America, the last one as the best scorer. This is what counts. I’m telling you as a World Cup winner who scored in the Final against France and wasn’t even in the Ballon d’Or top 50 in 2006.”
Did he expect something more as well? Was he disappointed?
“Honestly, no. I won everything with Inter, and I lifted a World Cup with the national team,” said Materazzi.
“I wouldn’t swap these with a Ballon d’Or. I wouldn’t swap it with any other trophy I won.
“Sometimes, jurors don’t make consistent decisions,” he insisted.
“Look at Sneijder in 2010. Treble with Inter, World Cup Final with the Netherlands. Would it have been different if Robben had not missed that goal against Spain from a Sneijder assist? I don’t think so, given that, in the end, he finished fourth.”
Leo Messi said a few days before the Ballon d’Or ceremony that Lautaro deserved the award more than any other player, considering his achievement in the 2023-24 campaign.
“Lauti must heed Messi’s words because his judgement is more important than the one of the Ballon d’Or jury,” said Materazzi.
“Let me add the love from all the Inter fans. Lautaro is an icon, a real captain who led the team to a historic achievement like the Scudetto and the second star. He was the best Serie A scorer. These elements must motivate you and help you raise the bar.”
Lautaro has just become Inter’s best foreign scorer thanks to a goal against Empoli in an away 3-0 win on Wednesday.