Italy legend Alessandro Del Piero explains why he believes Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham should win the Ballon d’Or. ‘Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi did not deserve all their awards.’
The trophy is the greatest individual prize in world football and in recent years was effectively combined with the FIFA World Player of the Year Award.
This also made it rather more predictable and a little too easy for the big names to always be guaranteed votes.
Real Madrid won LaLiga and are in the Champions League Final this evening against Borussia Dortmund, so victory here could push Bellingham towards the Ballon d’Or in 2024.
Del Piero tips Bellingham for Ballon d’Or
“I hope that the Ballon d’Or is tied not only to the victories and defeats of a player, but to his real efficacy within the team, how much he can improve the squad and those around him,” Del Piero told Sky Sport Italia at Wembley Stadium ahead of the showdown.
“We are coming off an era where Ronaldo and Messi dominated. That was often deserved, but not always, in some occasions others would’ve deserved to get the award.”
The tendency is to give the trophy to whoever is in a team that wins one of the major trophies that season, especially at international level.
It was put to Del Piero that Bellingham’s chances would be boosted if England won EURO 2024.
“The Euros and the World Cup should only matter to a certain degree,” added Del Piero.
“They are big tournaments, but if the Ballon d’Or has to evaluate the full year, then it has to take other things into consideration too. There are many players who have incredible years. I want to be clear, sometimes we get confused and think the Ballon d’Or should go to absolutely the most talented player, but that’s not what it is for.”
Bellingham turns 21 later this month and has been a sensation at Real Madrid this season with 23 goals and 12 assists in 41 appearances.