Gerardo Martino backs Lionel Messi for Ballon d'Or

Argentina manager Gerardo Martino has admitted that he will vote for Lionel Messi to win the Ballon d'Or this year.

Messi is seen as one of the favourites to win the award, after scoring 41 goals for Barcelona last season.

"You can't take out of the decision-making process the fact I am Argentinian and my heart lies with Messi," Sky Sports News quotes Martino as saying.

"I'm probably not the best person to be asked to judge the Ballon d'Or because I cannot separate sentiment from my decision - I'm not the most objective person.

"Whatever kind of season Messi might have had from a playing point of view, I would still vote for him."

Messi has been named the world's best player on four previous occasions.