Real Madrid legend Gareth Bale has claimed that, while Jude Bellingham is in the running to win the 2024 Ballon d'Or, he will have to emulate Lionel Messi on the international stage in order to secure the award.
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The Welshman is the most decorated British player to have ever donned the famous Los Blancos strip. During his time at the Santiago Bernabeu, however, he was not able to claim the honour of being the world's best player by winning the Ballon d'Or.
The last man from the United Kingdom to win the Golden Ball was Michael Owen in 2001, but this season, Bellingham has made a strong case to get his hands on it, with the 20-year-old having scored 23 goals and provided 12 assists in all competitions for Los Merengues.
Bale feels the Stourbridge native will be rivalled by his teammate Vinicius Junior for the illustrious prize this year, and believes Bellingham needs to win the upcoming UEFA European Championship, similar to how Lionel Messi won the 2021 Copa America and 2022 FIFA World Cup, if he is to solidify his claim to the Ballon d'Or.
"Of course," Bale told the PA news agency when he was asked if he thinks the midfielder is in the running to be named the world's best player later this year, as per The Independent.
"Having a major international tournament is going to play a big part in winning that trophy. The Copa America is on as well, so I guess there's a lot to play for [between Bellingham and Vinicius] because winning the Ballon d'Or, you need to win team trophies.
"If there's an international tournament, you have to provide on that stage as well, like (Lionel) Messi did a couple of years ago.
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"Obviously, there's a lot to prove, but he's done a lot of the hard work already."
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