'Why not?' - Wayne Rooney tips Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham to take over from Lionel Messi and win Ballon d'Or

Bellingham has had a scintillating start to his career at Real Madrid with the midfielder topping the scoring charts in La Liga. The Englishman has touted the former Manchester United man as the biggest influence on his career, and Rooney was quick to return the compliment by tipping the 20-year-old as one of favourites for the next Ballon d'Or.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Rooney said: "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.

"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."

Bellingham followed in Rooney's footsteps recently when he won the Golden Boy Award, an honour that the Birmingham City coach won in 2004. Recent recipients of the award also include Erling Haaland, Pedri and Kylian Mbappe, three youngsters who are very likely to share the podium with Bellingham for years to come in the future.

The English midfielder will next be in action when Real Madrid take on Real Betis on Saturday, December 9 as they look to build a gap on Girona and Barcelona who go head-to-head on December 10.