Liverpool star Rio Ngumoha is aiming to follow in Harry Kane's footsteps, with the 18-year-old feeling even more confident about his Ballon d'Or hopes in the future
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 09: Rio Ngumoha of England arrives at Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre on November 09, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
Rio Ngumoha has reiterated his hopes of winning the Ballon d'Or in the future(Image: Getty Images)
Rio Ngumoha has reiterated his desire to win the Ballon d’Or in the future, with the Liverpool star taking inspiration from England teammate Harry Kane.
Kane became the first English player since Michael Owen in 2001 to win the biggest individual prize in world soccer when he was crowned the Ballon d’Or winner in London last month.
While he is still very much in the infancy of his career, Ngumoha has already set his sights on following in Kane’s footsteps by becoming the world’s best player, having been inspired by working closely with the England captain in recent months.
Ngumoha has enjoyed a rapid rise to stardom after breaking through at Liverpool, with a call-up to the Three Lions’ training squad ahead of the World Cup being followed up by two more calls to Thomas Tuchel’s squad this season.
At just 18, Ngumoha is already on the path to achieving his ultimate goal of winning the Ballon d’Or, having previously outlined his ambition before he’d even become a regular at Anfield.
And having seen Kane pave the way for English players again, the teenager feels even more confident now that he can achieve it.
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC - SEPTEMBER 29: Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane and Rio Ngumoha of England interact as they are substituted during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Czechia and England at Fortuna Arena on September 29, 2026 in Prague, Czech Republic. (Photo by Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
Rio Ngumoha is hoping to follow in Harry Kane's footsteps(Image: Getty Images)
"[Kane winning] has 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 want to be known as the best player in the world," Ngumoha said while on international duty this week.
"For me, I would like to achieve it and I think I can do it."
Ngumoha will be aiming to earn his fourth England cap when the Three Lions face Croatia on Thursday before the ultimate test against world champion Spain on Sunday.
The youngster is actually ahead of Kane at this stage of his career - the current Ballon d’Or holder didn’t make his international debut until he was 21, while Ngumoha became his country’s third-youngest player to make his competitive debut in September.
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The winger is relishing the opportunity to work closely with the player regarded as the world’s best right now, having already built up his confidence during the last international camp.
"I haven't spoken to him much, really," Ngumoha added of Kane. "When I first came, I was a bit shy, so I was keeping myself to myself, but then they got me in the group, and just watching him train, watching all the players train, but especially him, like the finishing drills that you see.
"You can see why he won it and why he's known as the best striker, best player in the world.
"Definitely an inspiration to me, but just to every young player and probably every England player as well. He's a top guy."