‘Why not in the world’ - Former Chelsea star tips Nicolas Jackson to win Ballon d’Or award
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Former Chelsea star tips Nicolas Jackson to win Ballon d’Or award || Imago

‘Why not in the world’ - Former Chelsea star tips Nicolas Jackson to win Ballon d’Or award

Stephen Oladehinde 13:09 - 02.11.2024

According to a former Chelsea player, Nicolas Jackson will win the Ballon d'Or and rank among the top scorers in the world of football.

Jackson was signed for £32 million by the Blues in June 2023 after an outstanding La Liga season with Villareal.

The 23-year-old had a strong start to 2024–25 under new Blues manager Enzo Maresca, scoring 17 goals in 44 games across all competitions in his first season in England.

Despite criticism from Mikel Obi and other pundits, the Senegalese has shown he can lead the Chelsea attack.

Koulibaly speaks on Jackson’s ability

Kalidou Koulibaly has claimed that Jackson has the potential to advance much farther and eventually compete for football's greatest individual honours.

Koulibaly, former Chelsea defender || Imago
Koulibaly, former Chelsea defender || Imago

According to Give Me Sport, via Daliy Mail, Koulibaly said, “I hope he will continue to score. We know for all strikers life is goals, and Nicolas is no different. He has a good attitude and personality. And for me, he'll become the story of Senegal, just like Sadio Mane did. 

“I am always telling him he has to follow Mane. And I hope he will be the best player in Africa and why not in the world? He has the talent, so all things are at his feet.

“Nicolas has to believe he can be this good. That is the most important thing. All the players who have won the Ballon d'Or believed they could. They all thought they could win this trophy. So you have to put this in Nicolas' head.

Nicolas Jackson on his Senegal debut Credit: Instagram/@jackson.nj11)
Nicolas Jackson on his Senegal debut Credit: Instagram/@jackson.nj11)

“Of course, I don't tell him to be selfish and ignore his teammates, but he has to think about the Ballon d'Or, and if you put this image in his head, he can achieve it. And that's what I tell him all the time.”

Koulibaly asserted that his countryman might become the first African to win the Ballon d'Or since George Weah almost thirty years ago.

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