BUKAYO SAKA has been told to end England’s long wait for a Ballon d’Or winner.
Since the award’s inaugural presentation in 1956, only four Englishmen have got their hands on the legendary golden ball.
Bukayo Saka has become one of the Premier League's most consistent players
Bukayo Saka has become one of the Premier League's most consistent playersCredit: Getty
Englishman Jude Bellingham came close to winning the Ballon d'Or this year
Englishman Jude Bellingham came close to winning the Ballon d'Or this yearCredit: PA
Stanley Matthews claimed the very first one 68 years ago, followed by Sir Bobby Charlton in 1966, a Kevin Keegan double in 1978 and 1979 and Michael Owen in 2001.
Others have come close over the years with top three finishes – Bobby Moore in 1970, Gary Lineker in 1986, Alan Shearer in 1996, David Beckham in 1999, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard in 2005.
Arsenal’s Saka, 23, has made the Ballon d’Or top 30 in the last two years, finishing 24th in 2023 and 21st in 2024 – having established himself as a Three Lions regular and Premier League star.
And Gunners midfielder Jorginho – who finished third in the 2021 Ballon d’Or with Chelsea – said: “[Saka] is unbelievable… world class. I said to him: ‘I want to see you win the Ballon d’Or’.
read more arsenal
“I said that because I believe in him. I hope he believes in himself as well.”
In third place this year, Jude Bellingham became the first Englishman to nick a Ballon d’Or podium place for 15 years after a stunning debut season at Real Madrid with 23 goals and 13 assists in all competitions, winning La Liga and the Champions League.
To make the next step, Saka needs a similar return and trophy haul.
But Saka’s consistency is now setting him apart from the rest this season with five goals and 10 assists in the Prem in 12 outings – seeing him top the assist charts of Europe’s top five leagues above the likes of Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal.
Most read in Football
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
Jorginho has also been impressed with the variety in left-footed Saka’s game. He added: “Before he was going the left foot, going the left foot. Now he's going the right foot.
“The thing he needs more of now is his hunger to get in the box when he's on the weak side. I want to see headers from him.
How Cucurella trapped Saka AGAIN with simple trick but Chelsea have critical Palmer problem
ENGLISH BALLON D'OR WINNERS
ONLY four Englishmen have lifted the famous Ballon d'Or since its inception in 1956:
1956 - Stanley Matthews (Blackpool) Age: 41
1966 - Sir Bobby Charlton (Manchester United) Age: 29
1978 - Kevin Keegan (Hamburg) Age: 27
1979 - Kevin Keegan (Hamburg) Age: 28
2001 - Michael Owen (Liverpool) Age: 22
“It's the little things that he's missing because sometimes the ball's on the other side and I can see it coming. I am like: ‘Get in [the box]. And he’s not there. I'm like, no, man.”
Jorginho admits he keeps Saka grounded by teasing him in training with a Brazil-based nickname ‘pesudo’ – which translates as ‘big foot’.
It is used on the rare occasion Saka fluffs a finish or makes a mistake.
Arsenal ratings vs West Ham
WEST HAM and Arsenal served up one of the finest London derbies in recent memory on Saturday night, with SEVEN goals in the first half alone.
The Gunners sailed into a 4-0 lead in the opening 35 minutes before the Hammers reduced the deficit with two quickfire goals, including a sublime Emerson free-kick.
Bukayo Saka's penalty on the stroke of half-time made it 5-2, becoming only the fourth Premier League match in history to see seven goals before the break.
A relatively lacklustre second half followed, with Mikel Arteta ringing the changes, particularly with Wednesday night's showdown with Man Utd at the Emirates in the back of his mind.
The result pulled the Gunners up to second in the Premier League table, six points behind Liverpool ahead of Sunday's huge showdown between the leaders and a struggling Man City.
Read how SunSport's Charlie Pittock rated the Gunners stars.
Jorginho – speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast – said: “He’s going mad, but it’s a joke because he’s completely the opposite, isn’t he?
“He's just an unbelievable player who is becoming like a machine for us and I hope he becomes like for England as well, you know, because his talent and his hunger and his quality is just so high.
“And on top of that, the person he is, he just deserves like the world for him, like everything. I'm there cheering for him, honestly.”
***Listen to the full Rio Meets Jorginho interview on Apple Podcasts and Spotify***