Lautaro Martinez discusses Ballon d’Or ranking, Inzaghi and Conte

Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez expressed feeling undervalued at times, particularly after placing seventh in the 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings. The Argentine striker also used the term “underestimated” to describe his current coach Simone Inzaghi.

Martinez was disappointed with his Ballon d’Or placement despite a stellar season that saw him win trophies with both Inter and Argentina’s national team. He also finished as Serie A’s top scorer with 24 goals.

The 27-year-old acknowledged learning a great deal under former Inter coach Antonio Conte, but feels he has reached “an even higher level” with Inzaghi. Martinez explained what makes Inzaghi especially well-suited to coaching him.

Regarding his Ballon d’Or ranking, Martinez said: “There are various factors, but I believe I had an important year. Not just because I was top scorer in Copa America and Serie A, but also for my overall play.”

Martinez played a crucial role in Inter’s 20th Serie A title and scored 5 goals in 6 Copa America appearances to help Argentina win the tournament. This contributed to his feeling of being underappreciated: “Sometimes yes. But team trophies carry more weight,” he noted.

The striker believes Inzaghi is also undervalued as a coach. Martinez praised Inzaghi’s ability to relate to players, stating: “His secret is that he still thinks like a player at times, so he understands us very well. It’s doubly fortunate for me since he was a striker, so he knows how to keep me clear-headed and smiling. With Inzaghi, I feel I’ve grown to an even higher level.”