Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha has been talking at the England camp ahead of their UEFA Nations League meeting with Croatia at Wembley on Thursday evening
Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha training with England
Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha training with England(Image: Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
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Rio Ngumoha believes he can follow in the footsteps of Harry Kane and win the Ballon d'Or - and that a "no-brainer" move to Liverpool has proven the right choice.
Teenager winger Ngumoha is presently with the England squad preparing for Thursday's UEFA Nations League clash at home to Croatia having enjoyed an encouraging start to the season with the Reds.
Kane last week became only the fifth Englishman to lift the Ballon d'Or due to his exploits with the Three Lions at the World Cup and with Bayern Munich in Germany.
The English top flight has provided the winner of the award only three times in the last 58 years with Michael Owen the solitary Englishman to claim the accolade with a domestic club in that time when triumphing with Liverpool in 2001.
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During the same period, Barcelona have provided the winner on 11 occasions, ahead of Real Madrid (nine), AC Milan (eight), Juventus (seven) and Bayern Munich (six).
And Ngumoha - who is still to agree a new contract with Liverpool as he approaches the final 18 months of his current deal - has reiterated his dream is to be named the best player in the world.
“Yeah, 100%," said the 18-year-old. "Harry Kane winning the Ballon d'Or is definitely a big, big thing, being known as the best player in the world.
“It's also helped English football now because everyone's seen one of us win the Ballon d’Or, it is definitely encouraging many more people to wanting to definitely be known as the best player in the world. For me, I would like to achieve it and I think I can do it.”
Ngumoha added: "I feel like if you don't visualise anything or you don't dream big enough, then you might not ever achieve it. So I think just having the belief and the force in your mind thinking, one day I can play for England.
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“I think you definitely need to have that so you can drive to achieve it. So yeah, I've definitely always believed in it.
“My brother (James) has been a massive part of my journey. He saw the talent in me from when I was like five years old, which is crazy to say.
"But yeah, he's my agent as well now. He just wants the best for me, and he's really supportive.
“My brother is tough, sometimes. I definitely needed that when I was younger. My mum has done a lot for me. The hardest thing for her has been moving up to Liverpool. She left her job to come move up. She does everything for me and my brother. She’s just amazing.”
Ngumoha had spells at West Ham United and Arsenal before joining Chelsea aged just eight, but then opted to sign for Liverpool in 2024 because he could see a clearer pathway to the first team.
That choice is now paying off with 44 Reds appearances, with the youngster having become a firm favourite among Liverpool supporters, who he describes as “the best in the world.”
“I feel like I needed a new challenge," he said. "I feel like if I stayed at Chelsea - not saying that I wouldn't have got to the first team as quick, because I believe in my ability, but I feel like Liverpool just gave me a new pathway. The plan that they set for me was straightforward really.
“For me, it was a no-brainer going to Liverpool, and they just said if I prove myself, because they know how much ability I had, then they know that I would definitely be a first-team player and definitely a star for them in the making.
"I think going to Liverpool so far has been the right choice.”
Ngumoha has won three senior caps for England, but with Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka out injured, there could be a chance for him to start against Croatia, with Thomas Tuchel's side completing their group on Sunday evening in Spain.
"I'm competing with the best players in the world, so it's not going to be easy," said the teenager about his chances of playing.
“But if I can show myself in training and if the manager gives like faith and believes in me, then I'd love to start. But obviously, it's difficult, and I just keep going really.”