Lionel Messi's Inter Miami boss Gerardo Martino reveals his 2024 Ballon d'Or pick

• The 2024 Ballon d'Or winner will be announced on Monday evening at the highly anticipated ceremony
• Real Madrid duo Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior and Manchester City's Rodri are the leading contenders
• Lionel Messi's Inter Miami coach, Gerardo Martino, has made his pick for the Ballon d'Or award

Football fans will discover the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner on Monday, with Vinicius Junior and Rodri are the leading contenders.

Lionel Messi won the prestigious award last year, ending his dominance with Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi's Inter Miami coach, Gerardo Martino, believes the Argentinian star is the best player in the world, but Vinicius Jr. deserves to win it.

Lionel Messi won last year's Ballon d'Or award, but Vinicius Junior is the leading contender for this year's award. Photos by Francois Nel, James Gill-Danehouse, and Diego Souto.
Source: UGC

Ballon d'Or leading contenders

Messi took home his eighth Ballon d'Or award last year, but some felt he didn't deserve it.

Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr., Jude Bellingham and Manchester City's Rodro are considered the front-runners this year.

Vinicius Jr led Real Madrid to La Liga and Champions League glory in the 2023/24 season. He registered 24 goals and 11 assists in 39 appearances in that campaign.

He scored in the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund and has 15 goals and assists this season already, per Transfermarkt.

Rodri cemented his status as the best deep-flying midfielder in the world. He won the Premier League with Man City and the Euros with Spain.

Martino makes Ballon d'Or pick

Martino believes Vinicius Jr has done enough to win it.

"It [the Ballon d'Or] has never been something that caught my attention, nor was it clear to me whether the award is for the best in the world or of the year," Martino said via Eurosport."Vinicius probably has the merits to be considered the best player in the world and win the Ballon d'Or, but if I'm asked who the best player in the world is at the moment, I'm going to say, Leo Messi."

Bellingham and his teammate Kylian Mbappe are also candidates to win it.

Arsenal star backs Vinicius

Legit.ng earlier reported that Arsenal defender Gabriel called Vinicius Junior the best player in the world and backed him to win the 2024 Ballon d'Or.

The Brazilian led the Spanish giants to La Liga and Champions League glory, scoring important goals along the way.

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Source: TUKO.co.ke