Ollie Watkins backs Jude Bellingham for Ballon d'or - regardless of whether England beat Spain

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Evening Standard

·12 July 2024

Ollie Watkins backs Jude Bellingham for Ballon d'or - regardless of whether England beat Spain

International glory would cap off already remarkable season for Real Madrid star

Ollie Watkins believes England’s tournament aura has made them international football’s answer to Real Madrid - and claimed Los Blancos star Jude Bellingham deserves the Ballon d’Or regardless of who wins Sunday’s Euro 2024 final.

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The Three Lions meet Spain in Berlin this weekend, looking to deliver the country’s first men’s major tournament triumph since 1966.

England did not reach a single tournament final between 1966 and Gareth Southgate taking the helm eight years ago, but have now reached two in as many European Championships, as well as the World Cup semi-final against Croatia in 2018.

Despite not playing their best football for much of this campaign, Southgate’s side have repeatedly found ways to win, coming from behind to triumph in all three knockout games so far, each time in late, dramatic fashion.

Real Madrid’s dominance of the Champions League has seen them earn a similar reputation, on show again in their semi-final comeback against Bayern Munich en route to a 15th success in the competition at the end of the season just gone.

“I feel if it was related to club football as you see someone like Real Madrid in a Champions League game,” Watkins said. “They are comfortable without the ball, they have that confidence that when they get the ball, they are going to score.

“I feel like it is the same here. We are definitely hard to beat then we just need that one chance and we can win the game.

“It doesn’t matter if we are playing poorly or if players are having an off day, we still have that world class talent where we can pop up and get that goal.”

All eyes will be on Bellingham in Sunday’s final as the England midfielder comes up against the country he has taken by storm during a stunning debut season at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Jude Bellingham has taken LaLiga by storm during his first season with Real Madrid

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The 20-year-old scored 23 goals across competitions as Madrid won a league and Champions League double, and was also named LaLiga’s player of the year.

European Championship glory would cap a dream year but such has been the youngster’s success that Watkins believes he would be worthy of football’s most prestigious individual prize, even is England miss out this weekend.

“Whatever happens, Jude should win the Ballon d’Or,” Watkins added. “The way he's played, he plays with such maturity, confidence, aura.

"I can't speak any more highly of him to be honest. To see him transition from where he was – obviously I played against him at Birmingham and even the way he played then you'd have thought he was a seasoned pro.

“I've played a number of games [with him] and I remember being in one of the camps, one of my earlier camps, I think he was 16 at the time and he still had confidence about him. It's no surprise really to see what he's gone on and done.”