Chelsea and England star Cole Palmer sets sights on Ballon d'Or after maiden nomination following stellar year
Published 20/10/2024 at 12:28 GMT+1
Cole Palmer has set his sights on winning the Ballon d'Or and believes that "with hard work and consistency" he can get there. The Chelsea midfielder has already scored six goals this season, four of which came in a single half against Brighton, after scoring 22 last season in his impressive breakout last year at Stamford Bridge.
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Cole Palmer has said he believes he can win the Ballon d'Or in his career, after being nominated for the 2024 award.
The 22-year-old had a breakout year at Chelsea in the 2023-24 Premier League season after joining from Manchester City to earn himself a spot among the world's best.
He has already began to back up his nomination with four goals in a half for Chelsea against Brighton, and has added five assists so far as he looks to nail down a place in Thomas Tuchel's England side.
"It was a surprise to be recognised at that level so early in my career," Palmer said about his Ballon d'Or nomination. "It’s a huge honour. Winning it would be brilliant, and I believe with hard work and consistency I could get there."
Palmer is already making Premier League history and, as Chelsea's key player, will be crucial as the Blues prepare for a gruelling run of fixtures, starting with Sunday's meeting with Liverpool at Anfield.
They then face Newcastle at Stamford Bridge before traveling to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.
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Under Enzo Maresca, Chelsea have made a promising start to the season, and his management has seen the club win four of their seven league games with just one loss.
Palmer explained how Maresca's style has suited him so far, saying: "Playing centrally has given me more opportunities to influence the game. I enjoy being involved in the build-up and making key passes as well as scoring. It suits my style, and I think I can be even more effective there.
"Defenders are more aware of my presence, but that’s part of the game. I focus on keeping my composure, using my skills and finding ways to create space for myself."
His form has seen him sign a contract extension which will keep him at the club until 2033, and Palmer admitted that "Chelsea feels like home."
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Palmer hit another level at the Euros in the summer, scoring England's equalising goal in the final againt Spain before eventually losing.
"Looking back, the experience was invaluable," he said. "I learned a lot from being part of the squad. Of course, I’d love to play more, but it’s all about contributing to the team when you get out on the pitch."
"Scoring in a final is always special... I’ll always remember the feeling from that moment, but then turn my focus on winning.
With the Euros leading quickly into the league season, and the FIFA Club World Cup at the end of the current season, Palmer is one of a crop of young footballers playing lots of minutes in demanding tournaments, but the midfielder is relishing every second.
"It’s a lot of football, but I thrive on it. Playing in these tournaments is an incredible experience."
In his first season at the club, Palmer mirrored Frank Lampard's feat of scoring 22 league goals in a season, an impressive haul for a midfielder.
With six goals already this year, there is every chance he may break that record sooner rather than later.
"That’s a solid record. It’s definitely a goal of mine to aim for that…and maybe even beyond! I’m always looking to improve my scoring tally and I think I’ve shown this by scoring four in the first half [against Brighton last month]. Apparently I made history!"
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