Liverpool star Rio Ngumoha has been backed to win the Ballon d'Or in the future, with the winger certainly showing some promising signs in the early days of his career
Rio Ngumoha of Liverpool is seen during the Carabao Cup Round of 16 match between Liverpool and Chelsea
Rio Ngumoha has been backed to win the Ballon d'Or(Image: (Photo by Steven Halliwell/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images))
Jarell Quansah has backed Rio Ngumoha to be a future Ballon d'Or winner, as the Liverpool star continues to impress in the early stages of his career at Anfield and with England. He's even been blowing his new Three Lions teammates away.
The 18-year-old has risen through the ranks since joining from Chelsea, making an impression last season when called upon, before taking a more prominent role in the team under Andoni Iraola this campaign.
Ngumoha has played on both the left and the right flank, possesses pace and trickery that push the opposition on the back foot, and a shot from range that would have any goalkeeper fearing the worst. While he is still having to be managed through such a tender period of his career, there is clearly talent there that has fans excited.
Last season, the winger was one of the few bright sparks that could be picked out of an otherwise dismal campaign. This term has come with plenty of plaudits too, as the star received a standing ovation during the clash with Villarreal in the Champions League, where he was head and shoulders above the rest of his teammates on the pitch.
The sky is the limit for Ngumoha, should Liverpool harness his quality and develop him in the right way, with the youngster clearly tipped for big things. While it remains to be seen just how good he becomes, Quansah has backed him to be a future Ballon d'Or winner in the camp.
When speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live about which young players could be winners of the individual award in the future, he said: "I don't want to put anyone too high like that, but outstanding, outstanding talent is Rio Ngumoha.
"Trained with him at Liverpool a lot, very young when he came to Liverpool but he's so sharp, so quick, and I think it's the first thing most lads said when he came here [the England squad]. He's so brave at doing his one-v-ones, and definitely someone who has the potential to be on that level."
It shows just how highly regarded Ngumoha is among the top stars at the international level, with the youngster now part of the England senior national team on a regular basis at this stage.
It may take a lot for the 18-year-old to reach that level, but the early signs in his career point towards someone who has all the talent and ability to be named one of the very best in the world.
Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha training with England
Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha training with England(Image: Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
Should Ngumoha win the Ballon d'Or, he would follow in the footsteps of Harry Kane, who managed to win the award this year, becoming the first Englishman to do so in 25 years.
Having seen up close the standard that the England captain is able to set, the Liverpool star himself has set out his desire to win the award himself.
"[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 in the England camp this week. "For me, I would like to achieve it and I think I can do it."
It's up to the club and the player to get the best out of the new Three Lions star to help him reach the top, along with a little bit of luck along the way. There's a long career ahead of Ngumoha, but there is clearly a standard set for where he can reach in the future.