Why Jude Bellingham has ‘massive chance’ to end 23-year Ballon d’Or cycle – with Michael Owen confident Real Madrid superstar can land Golden Ball in 2024

Back in 2001, following heroic efforts for Liverpool and England, Owen landed a prestigious Golden Ball. He would go on to link up with Real Madrid, with current Three Lions star Bellingham following in those illustrious footsteps.

Bellingham is, at 20 years of age, already a Golden Boy and La Liga title winner, while he also has the chance to claim Champions League and European Championship honours in 2024. Having already netted 23 goals for Real Madrid this season, the exciting playmaker is considered to be in Ballon d’Or contention.

Owen has told TNT Sports of how Bellingham can win that race: “The Ballon d'Or comes to players who have an exceptional season, not only personally, but who have had a season where they have won something or multiple titles. If Jude Bellingham goes and wins La Liga, which he already has done, as well as the Champions League all while being one of the stars of the show in that team, then he has got to be in the conversation. A lot will depend on Euro 2024 with England, if he has a good tournament and England go far then you could rightly say that he has a massive chance.”

Bellingham has a Champions League final clash with former employers Borussia Dortmund to take in before turning his thoughts to England duty, with Owen adding on how the hottest of prospects will approach a continental showpiece at Wembley: “I think Jude Bellingham will be absolutely loving and looking forward to this match. I don't really buy into pressure, I must admit. I think in any walk of life we are all trained to deal with or adapt to certain situations in any form of life, it just so happens that Jude Bellingham is a great footballer. When you go out to perform your skill, like any other place of work, when you turn up you do it, you are confident you can do it, you have practised doing it. He has done the hard yards, he knows he can go out there and perform in front of the audience, the media and his fellow professionals.”

Bellingham’s club colleague, Vinicius Junior, is another leading contender for the 2024 Ballon d’Or – and he also has international competition this summer at the Copa America. It remains to be seen who comes out on top, with remarkable standards being maintained by the best players on the planet.