Inter forward Lautaro picks Liverpool and PSG stars as Ballon d’Or favourites | OneFootball

Inter forward Lautaro Martinez has chosen Achraf Hakimi, Ousmane Dembele and Mohamed Salah as his favourites to win the Ballon d’Or.

In a lengthy interview with France Football, with quotes via FcInterNews, the Argentine said “PSG have several candidates and any one of them could win it… Hakimi, Dembele.”

“As for the rest,” he continued, “I really like Mohammed Salah. But it depends on how you evaluate it all. He had a great season in the Premier League, which he won, and he is a really interesting player.”

epa12147994 Ousmane Dembele (C) of PSG in action against Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer (R) and Federico Dimarco during the UEFA Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Internazionale Milano in Munich, Germany 31 May 2025. EPA-EFE/RONALD WITTEK

Inter’s Lautaro: ‘I’m in the top five strikers in the world’

Martinez himself is also amongst the candidates for the Ballon d’Or and was asked where he thinks he ranks among the top strikers in the world, “I’m in the top five, definitely”, the Argentine responded, “I don’t want to name names. Everyone ranks players in their own opinion; there are some top class strikers. But what I have done in recent years puts me in the top five.”

Martinez was ranked seventh in the last edition of the prestigious award and Lionel Messi said his compatriot deserved to win it. Lautaro himself also previously said he “expected better” and was asked if he stands by that: “I expected to be ranked higher after finishing as Serie A’s top scorer and player, winning Copa America with five goals, including the winning goal in the final. I also won the Supercoppa Italiana, scoring in the semi-final and the final. I respect the judges’ decision but they asked me what I thought and I told the truth. That is just how I am.”

epa12078642 Lautaro Martinez celebrates after scoring the 1-0 goal during the UEFA Champions League semifinal 2nd leg in Milan, Italy, 06 May 2025. EPA-EFE/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO

The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony takes place soon, in the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on Monday 22 September. This is much earlier than last year’s edition, which took place at the end of October.

You can read more of the Argentine’s interview here.