Do you know how long it has been since an English player won the Ballon d’Or?
Let me tell you. It’s disappointing for an English fanatic (like me) that it’s been 23 years since Micheal Owen won it. But this year around, there has been a significant improvement in football’s most prestigious individual award as many young players and veterans like Harry Kane from England made it to the Ballon d’Or top 30.
Thanks to an ‘almost’ successful international campaign where they made it to the final of Euros but lost to the well-drilled Spain. Also, these English players played an integral role for their clubs which led them to further ranking in the Ballon d’or.
Now, without much ado, let’s talk about these players and their performances in the previous campaigns internationally and on the club level.
● Jude Bellingham the 3rd
Let’s start with the best of the best from England. The guy came from the Bundesliga and instantly made a huge impact in the Spanish top tier.
I streamed all of Real Madrid’s matches in 4K and this guy was everywhere when Los Blancos were causing a stir in the opposition half. The guy converted 23 times and assisted 13 in his debut season. That’s not bad for a 20-year-old youngster who switched leagues. In fact, it’s wonderful.
My favorite moment was when he scored and provided an assist in Real Madrid’s clash with Napoli. Disappointingly, I couldn’t watch the whole game because my WiFi went out to stroll in the green. So, being pissed off I decided to switch my ISP (internet service provider). If the internet in your area struggles to keep up and you too run into such hiccups, try switching your ISP. There is a good number of reliable options to choose from in the US like Xfinity, G Fiber, AT&T, and more.
Anyhow, he hasn’t impressed since Carlo Ancelotti tweaked his position to adjust Kylian Mbappé in the front. Carlo Ancelotti needs to fix this because those movements on the flanks are not working out very well for him. He had just an assist in seven appearances.
● Harry Kane the 10th
Ah, the veteran. He, notably, has improved his numbers not just on the scoresheet but on the Ballon d’Or ranking. He was nominated for the individual award in 2023 but he reserved 19th spot for himself in the top-30 list.
This time around, he came in the top 10, thanks to a shiny start to his career at Allianz Arena of Bayern Munich. He bagged 44 goals and 12 assists across all the competitions for Bayern Munich. For the country, he scored eight times.
That’s quite an improvement for the former Tottenham man. Even though he couldn’t hold the golden ball of the Ballon d’Or, he certainly lifted the Gerd Müller Trophy alongside Mbappé for scoring the most goals in the season.
Not to forget, those eight goals he scored for England played a vital role in boosting his position as they directly helped England to qualify against Spain in Euro 2024.
● Phil Foden the 11th
Talk about one of the best players right now in the Premier League and you won’t likely be skipping this name. At just 24 years of age, Phil Foden is a key player not only for Manchester City, but England as well. The awards speak for themselves: he won PFA Player of the Year along with FWA Footballer of the Year.
The 2023-24 season was great for him. He was able to score 27 times and provided aid for others on 12 occasions. Five of these goals came in the Champions League while the rest is scattered across the less shiny silverware and shinier Premier League which he eventually won.
Though he impressed in his performances with the club, he wasn’t that good when it came to international football. With England, his numbers weren’t good but still, he had somewhat positively impacted the team. I mean, a major part of his Ballon d’Or ranking was based on club football.
● Bukayo Saka the 21st
Since his debut in the 2018/19 season from Arsenal academy, the English man has been on a road to enhancement. He has been the talisman for Arsenal and played a fine role in helping England reach the final of the Euro 2024.
If I talk about club football, Saka is arguably Arsenal’s best player. He scored 20 goals and assisted 14 in the last campaign for Arsenal. For England, he was okay in providing the width across the pitch.
Saka, alongside Declan Rice, are the only two-player to have reached the top 30 Ballon d’Or rankings.
IQnewswire 
delphine