Jude Bellingham has a great opportunity to win the Ballon d’Or if he performs well in the Euro 2024 tournament for England.

Jude Bellingham, the talented midfielder from Real Madrid, has a golden opportunity to win the prestigious Ballon d’Or, according to former footballer Michael Owen. Owen, who himself won the award in 2001, believes that if Bellingham performs well in the UEFA Champions League final and England have a successful run in Euro 2024, he could be a strong contender for the accolade.

Bellingham could become the first English player to win the Ballon d’Or since Owen himself claimed the title at the age of 22, beating out Raul and Oliver Kahn. After playing a key role in Real Madrid’s 36th La Liga triumph this season, the former Birmingham midfielder is already considered one of the favorites for the award.

With a Champions League final against his former club Borussia Dortmund and the opportunity to secure England’s first major trophy since 1966, Owen believes that Bellingham has a real chance of winning the Ballon d’Or. Owen stated, “The Ballon d’Or is awarded to players who have had an exceptional season, not only individually, but also in terms of winning titles. If Jude Bellingham wins La Liga, which he has already done, and the Champions League, while being one of the standout performers, then he must be in contention. A lot will depend on Euro 2024 with England; if he performs well and England go far, then he definitely has a massive chance.”

Bellingham is on track to finish the season as Real Madrid’s top scorer in all competitions, with an impressive record of 23 goals and ten assists in 37 matches. At just 20 years old, he already possesses a commanding presence on the field, and Owen believes he will relish the opportunity to play at Wembley with his club side.

Owen dismissed the notion of pressure, stating, “I don’t really buy into pressure. In any walk of life, we are all trained to deal with or adapt to certain situations. Jude Bellingham is a great footballer, and when he goes out to perform, he is confident and has practiced his skills. He has put in the hard work and knows he can deliver in front of the audience, the media, and his fellow professionals.”

Real Madrid secured their place in the 18th Champions League final with a thrilling 4-3 aggregate victory over German giants Bayern Munich. Owen believes that Madrid will be the clear favorites at Wembley, as they have consistently shown their ability to perform on the biggest stage.

“It is a Real Madrid victory that we should expect,” Owen stated. “Real Madrid’s recent achievements have been incredible. They have been a dominant force in this competition for a long time and have often been the best team. However, in recent years, there have been better teams. Liverpool outplayed them in the final, but Thibaut Courtois was the man of the match. It seems like every season they face Manchester City, and they have knocked City out twice in the last three years. They have that something special – experience, heritage, and everything that comes with the Real Madrid badge – that helps them cross the finish line. They know how to win, which is truly remarkable in this era when there are so many exceptional teams around.”