Brentford manager Thomas Frank has identified the English player he believes has the greatest potential to win the Ballon d’Or in the future, favoring Manchester City’s Phil Foden over Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham.
At 23 years old, Foden is enjoying a remarkably consistent season for City, having scored 15 goals and provided ten assists across all competitions. The last English player to claim the Ballon d’Or was Michael Owen in 2001, with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominating the award in recent years.
With Messi and Ronaldo in the latter stages of their careers, a new generation is expected to emerge as contenders for the prestigious accolade. Frank sees Foden as the English player with the best chance of achieving this feat.
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“Foden is a very talented player, and in my opinion, he is the closest England will come to winning a Ballon d’Or in the future,” remarked Frank ahead of Brentford’s Premier League clash with Manchester City.
He praised Foden’s ability to impact the game in various ways, highlighting his three-goal performance in the recent encounter against Brentford. Frank admires Foden’s dribbling skills, work ethic, and mentality, emphasizing that the young midfielder plays regularly for one of the world’s best teams.
While Foden did not make the top 30 shortlist for the Ballon d’Or in the previous year, he secured the 22nd position in 2022 and the 25th spot in 2021. Bellingham, Harry Kane, and Bukayo Saka represented England in 2023, with Bellingham finishing highest at 18th place. Despite Bellingham’s impressive form, Foden’s consistent performances have earned him recognition as a potential future Ballon d’Or winner.