Lautaro Martínez in 22nd place: only Serie A at the Ballon d’Or

Lautaro Martínez has placed twenty‑second in the Ballon d’Or 2026 ranking, the only Serie A representative among the thirty candidates. The awards ceremony will take place tonight in London, instead of Paris, and will reveal the final winner.

Only Inter presence in the ranking

In the 2025/26 season Martinez was a key figure with Inter, helping to win the Italian league title and the Coppa Italia. With the Argentine national team he took part in the World Cup held in the United States, Mexico and Canada, where he scored the decisive goal in the semi‑final against England.

However, unlike in 2022, Lionel Messi and his teammates failed to defend the title, handing the final to Spain. The defeat ended the desire for a repeat for the Albiceleste.

The 2026 edition appears among the most open of recent years: among the candidates stand out Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane and the young Lamine Yamal, but none emerges as a clear favourite. The variety of options makes the race particularly unpredictable.

The official Ballon d’Or website has published the full ranking, updating it as placements are announced. The current list shows Martinez in twenty‑second place, highlighting the Italian presence on the list.

The awards ceremony will take place this evening in London, an exceptional choice compared with the usual Paris venue. The event will attract the attention of fans and media worldwide.

The contrast between Martinez’s brilliant season and the lack of a clear favourite underscores the uncertainty that characterises this year. The winner will be revealed shortly, closing an edition full of surprises.