Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola believes Cole Palmer has what it takes to be in the running for next year’s Ballon d’Or. Speaking with The Mirror, Zola commended Palmer's impressive performances since he joined Chelsea last summer.
Palmer recently ranked 25th in the 2024 Ballon d'Or standings and had a standout season with 25 goals and 15 assists in 45 games for the Blues. However, Zola advised that the 22-year-old still has areas to improve. "He needs to work on his game because he’s still young and can get better,” Zola said. “With effort, he can be a contender for the Ballon d’Or as he has both the numbers and the skills. He’s also got a strong coach in Maresca, who can guide him."
Palmer recently won the EA SPORTS Player of the Month award for September 2024, thanks to his scoring feats against Brighton and his contributions to Chelsea’s draws and wins in recent games.
