Barcelona Defender Iñigo Martinez Declares Vinicius Junior the Strongest Ballon d’Or Candidate Ahead of Clasico Showdown

Barcelona defender Iñigo Martinez believes Vinicius Junior, a player for Real Madrid and the Brazilian national team, is the strongest candidate to win the Ballon d’Or, which is expected to be announced next Monday.

Martinez is preparing to face Vinicius this Saturday night in the Spanish Football Clasico, which will bring Barcelona up against Real Madrid, at the top of the eleventh round of the league, at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

Martinez said in statements to Movistar: “Vinicius Junior will win the Ballon d’Or. I have no doubt. We all know he will win it.”

He continued: “He’s a fantastic player and he showed that in his team’s last game against Borussia Dortmund, in the Champions League. He blew up the game and I have no doubt he will try to do it against us again.

Martinez, 33, hoped Barcelona players would be in the running to win the Ballon d’Or in years to come, and the Spain defender expected his partner and teammate in the Catalan team, Lamine Yamal, to be among those who will compete for the award in the coming years.

It is worth noting that Vinicius is considered the strongest candidate to win the Ballon d’Or, which is contested by a group of stars, including his teammates Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham, as well as Manchester City star Erling Haaland.