Owen gives Bellingham ´massive chance´ of Ballon d´Or success

Michael Owen believes Jude Bellingham has a “massive chance” of winning the Ballon d’Or after a stand-out debut season at Real Madrid.

Los Blancos won their 36th LaLiga title, losing just one of their league games while finishing 10 points clear of second-place Barcelona.

Bellingham ended the league campaign as Madrid’s top-scorer, netting 19 LaLiga goals and added another four in the Champions League to help them on their way to the final.

The attacking-midfielder has also created more chances under pressure (19) than any other midfielder in the Champions League, with four of those resulting in an assist for a Madrid teammate.

Bellingham is due to join up with England for Euro 2024 following the Champions League final as the Three Lions aim to win their first major trophy since 1966.

@BellinghamJude: “This team means Champions League.”#UCL | #APorLa15

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) May 27, 2024

Bellingham is among the favourites to get his hands on the Ballon d’Or and would be the first Englishman to win it since Owen himself in 2001.

“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,” Owen told TNT Sports.

“If Jude Bellingham goes and wins LaLiga, 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 will face former club Borussia Dortmund at Wembley on Saturday as Madrid aim to lift a record-extending 15th title in the European Cup.