Nicolas Jackson can win the Ballon d’Or one day, according to former Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly, who has advised the striker on how to accomplish so.
Jackson, a 23-year-old who joined Chelsea from Villarreal last summer, contributed 23 goals in his first season in all competitions, including 17 goals and six assists.
He has scored six goals in his first nine Premier League appearances this season, maintaining his recent form. Christopher Nkunku, who joined from RB Leipzig, is patiently waiting for his opportunities under Enzo Maresca while Jackson is delivering.
Jackson will be looking to improve on his 17 goals from the previous season, and the Chelsea head coach has been quite impressed with the Senegal international.
Koulibaly, who departed Chelsea last summer after only one season because he struggled to adjust to the demanding landscape of England and the Premier League, has praised Jackson.
The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner was Rodri, a midfielder for Manchester City, who defeated Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr. for the coveted individual honour.
Though he cautioned the forward not to be “selfish and ignore his teammates,” Koulibaly thinks Jackson of Chelsea may win the award in the future if he has the right mindset.
“I hope he will continue to score,” Koulibaly said to Ben Jacobs. “We are aware that life is all about goals for attackers, and Nicolas is no exception. His personality and attitude are positive. And like Sadio Mane, he will become the tale of Senegal in my opinion. I keep reminding him that he must follow Mane. I also hope that he becomes the finest player in Africa, if not the entire globe. Everything is at his feet because of his talent.
“Nicolas must think he is capable of such excellence. That’s the most crucial factor. Every player who has taken home the Ballon d’Or thought they could. All of them believed they could take home this trophy. You must therefore instill this in Nicolas’ mind.
“Of course, I don’t advise him to disregard his teammates and be self-centred, but he needs to consider winning the Ballon d’Or. If you can help him visualize it, he can succeed. And I constantly remind him of it.
“Nicolas will become one of the finest in the world if he believes he can be the best in Senegal and among the best worldwide. He needs to keep working. He can accomplish every goal with effort. I thus hope that he will place in the top three for the Ballon d’Or, at least as Mane did. For him, that would be truly incredible.
