Emiliano Dibu Martínez shortcut and Lautaro Martínez converts. Almost in unison, the two Argentine footballers nominated for the 2024 Ballon d’Or make merit in the Argentine National Team and in their teams. On Saturday, the man from Mar del Plata had saved a penalty for Aston Villa. This Sunday, The ‘Toro’ was once again fundamental for Inter in Italywho with a goal from his volley on the run, won 1-0 away from Romawhere they played Paulo Dybala y Matías Souléand he was in the bank -again- Leandro Paredes.
The Bahiense, a couple of days after scoring with the albiceleste shirt in the South American Qualifiers in the win against Bolivia, was fundamental for the Neroazzurri, because he appeared in the 60th minute to culminate a quick counterattack with a tremendous shot to the goalkeeper’s right corner Belgian Mile Svilar.
Another Argentine, Soulé, could have been the hero for the ‘Loba’, but his shot was spectacularly parried by Swiss goalkeeper Jann Sommer.
In the last three Serie A matches, ‘Toro’ scored three goals. But this one at the Olympic Stadium was more than special: he reached 133 goals in 291 games played with Inter to equal the Hungarian’s record. Stefano Raw as the Milan team’s top foreign scorer.
The Portuguese will not be there either Cristiano Ronaldo. Both had good individual performances in the season (August to last June) at the club level in Inter Miami and Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia, while the man from Rosario added the bonus of being a two-time champion of the Copa América with the Argentine National Team.
A similar situation had already happened to Messi in 2022, during his first season at PSG and before becoming world champion with the Argentine National Team. This time, after his first season in the MLS in the United States – with a title in the Leagues Cup – he had to suffer a couple of injuries that kept him off the field for a long time.
The absence of the two top scorers in history represents a change of Era. It will be the first time since 2003 that neither of them is, at least, among the 30 finalists for the highest award, which a few years ago once again separated from FIFA, which has its own The Best.
And Scaloni is clear about who deserves it, while all the guns are aimed at the Brazilian Vinicius Jr. “He deserves it more than anyone. I hope it can be given to him. He is a boy who, in addition, I appreciate a lot. He has been with us from minute zero. I hope it can be given to him. Surely, if not now, it will be later “It still has a huge future.”said the coach born in Pujato, Santa Fe.