Enrique 'Quique' Wolff from ESPN is the Ballon d'Or voter for Argentina and his top 5 for the 2023 edition is very PATRIOTIC.
While he did recognise Kylian Mbappe for the trouble he caused his country in the World Cup final, the rest of his picks are Argentinians:
1. Messi
2. Alvarez
3. Mbappe
4. Emi Martinez
5. Lisandro Martinez
Rules do not forbid journalists from voting for their fellow countrymen but the reporter really gave his men so many points.
Tellingly, football fans reacted on Reddit.
One wrote: "Some are unbiased, some put in top 5 best player from their country/region and then there's Argentinian dude that just started blasting national anthem with cameo from Mboopi."
Another wrote: "That Argentinian journalist is killing me, no Haaland in his top 5."
One more added: "4/5 of Argentina were from their country while Norway voted Messi 2nd. The solution is to kick the clown reporters and choose better ones. It's ok to vote for your country's players. Just don't be a clown."
