‘I am a huge fan’ : Michael Owen believes one Man City star could win Ballon d’Or one day

Former Premier League star Michael Owen believes Phil Foden is the Englishman capable of winning Ballon d’Or one day. 

Foden has established himself as a key player at Manchester City, while he also shines for Gareth Southgate’s England national team. 

Owen, who is a huge fan of the attacker, believes the 22-year-old has all chances to win the prestigious award in his career. 

“I am a huge Phil Foden fan. If there’s one player in the England team who could win a Ballon d’Or, it could be him,” he said, via Professional Footballers’ Association.

England kick off their World Cup campaign on Monday, November 21, locking horns with Iran at the Khalifa International Stadium, and Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail says Phil Foden could start for the Three Lions.

Foden is a four-time Premier League winner who has taken his game at Manchester City to new heights this season but has previously failed to reproduce those displays under manager Gareth Southgate.

He has scored only twice in 18 international appearances but arrives in Qatar as one of England’s highest-profile players, pushing to start alongside Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling in Southgate’s three-man attack.

Phil Foden says he is no Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe or Cristiano Ronaldo.

Asked whether he felt part of the same elite group of global stars including France’s Mbappe and Brazil’s Neymar, Foden said: “No, definitely not. The people you’ve just mentioned there are way above me at the moment but I like to think I could be there one day.

“It’s all about taking small steps in the right direction. I just want to take my club form into the national team. With my club form this year, I’ve been scoring a lot of goals and I want to bring that to the national team.

“I’ve got to score in big games and big finals to be world class. I know I’m capable of doing that so it’s something I strive for and look forward to.

“Have England seen the best of me? Definitely not. I don’t think it is easy coming into a team and not knowing the players very well.

“You have to learn to play with different players and what they like best — running behind, or wanting balls to feet. Just little details like that. I have had enough experience in the England team to understand the players. Hopefully I can bring that into the World Cup.

“I definitely should have scored a lot more for England really. We have quality in every area on the season, so we can’t always rely on Harry because teams are going to try to cut him off, because of how good he is.

“It is going to take not just Harry to step up this tournament. Us attacking players are going to have to step up as well as times.”