Real Madrid is no stranger to Ballon d’Or winners, and president Florentino Perez has revealed which one of his current stars he believes will one day lift the famous trophy – and it may raise a few eyebrows.
Over the years legendary names such as Alfredo Di Stefano, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric have all lifted the trophy while wearing the white of Madrid, and Perez has tipped another name to join that list.
Yet, while many would back current talisman Jude Bellingham to one day bag the honour, or maybe even Vinicius Jr, but the club president has predicted another name.
Perez was present for Real’s 2-0 win over Atletico Bilbao on Sunday, in which Brazilian forward Rodrygo starred, scoring both goals as Madrid went eight points clear at the top of La Liga.
After the victory, Perez was so impressed with Rodrygo’s display he told Defensa Central ‘He is going to win the Ballon d’Or.’
Florentino Perez believes a current Real Madrid star will one day lift the Ballon d’Or
The famous Ballon d’Or trophy is one of the biggest individual honours a player can win
Perez has surprisingly tipped Brazilian star Rodrygo as a future winner of the Ballon d’Or
Rodrygo was the star of the show for Madrid and stepped in for countrymen Vinicius Jr who was missing for Carlo Ancelotti’s men.
The 23-year-old opened the scoring after just eight minutes, with a strike from twenty yards.
He then sealed the victory for the Spanish giants, with a mazy run and finish seventeen minutes from time.
It means the forward has now scored 15 goals for the club in 42 games so far this season, and 52 times in total since he moved to Spain in 2019.
Jude Bellingham has already been spoken about as a future winner of the famous trophy
Some of the greatest players in the game have won a Ballon d’Or whilst playing for Madrid
If he were to bag a Ballon d’Or in his career, he would be the first Brazilian to win the trophy since Kaka in 2007 and would join names such as Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho who all lifted the golden ball.
The win leaves Real in a commanding position at the top of La Liga, ahead of rivals Barcelona, with eight games left to play.
The club – who welcomed back Bellingham to the side against Bilbao – are also in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, where they take on holders Manchester City later this month.
