Rooney tips Bellingham to win next year's Ballon d'Or

Lionel Messi won the Ballon d'Or for the eighth time in his career at a star-studded ceremony in Paris. Both Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland were contenders to win it this year along with the Argentine star and remain favourites for next year's awards.

However, Jude Bellingham is in the spotlight for his superb performances in his first season playing for Real Madrid. The 20-year-old has scored 15 goals and provided four assists in 17 competitive matches for the Spanish giants.

So much so that football legends such as Wayne Rooney, who had a brilliant career with Manchester United, have tipped the English midfielder as the next Ballon d'Or winner.

"If he keeps doing what he’s doing then why not? Again we've gone through that cycle of Messi and Ronaldo where they’ve dominated that. I'm sure there will be five or six players fighting to try and win the next one. I'm sure if he keeps doing what he's doing he'll be right up there," he told 'Sky Sports'.

"It's great to see a young English lad take the opportunity to go and play abroad, be brave, he did really well in Germany and is now at one of the biggest club in the world and really shining. I'm really pleased for him and hopefully he can take that into the Euros and help us be successful," he concluded.

 

December 7, 2023