Phil Foden is England's Most Likely Ballon d'Or Winner, Says Brentford Manager Thomas Frank

Manchester City's Phil Foden is the most likely English player to win the Ballon d'Or award in the coming years, according to Brentford manager Thomas Frank.

Manchester City's Phil Foden is the most likely English player to win the Ballon d'Or award in the coming years, according to Thomas Frank.

The Ballon d'Or is presented annually to the footballer voted the best in the world by a panel of international journalists.

It has been won by an English player on five occasions but not since 2001 when Michael Owen was the recipient.

The other English winners have been Stanley Matthews in 1956, Bobby Charlton in 1966 and Kevin Keegan in 1978 and 1979.

Brentford manager Frank believes that Foden could one day be added to that list.

Foden, 23, was part of the City team that won the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League treble last season.

So far this season, he has scored eight goals and provided seven assists in 24 EPL appearances.

Three of those goals came in a 3-1 away win over Brentford earlier this month.

Phil Foden pictured celebrating one of his three goals during Manchester City's 3-1 win at Brentford on February 5 :: IMAGO/Pro Sports Images/Nigel Keene

City will host Brentford in the reverse fixture on Tuesday night and Frank spoke highly of Foden on the eve of that game.

As quoted by BBC Sport, Frank said: "How do we stop him? Good question. Phil Foden is a very good player.

"For me, he's the closest England get to a Ballon d'Or winner in the future. I think he has that potential, that level.

"I think he influences the game in so many ways. The last game he got on the end of three situations and scored three goals.

"He is very good at dribbling, very good at sliding people in. He works very hard. He seems to have a good mentality - I don't know him personally - in terms of working hard.

"So he is very good. But they (Man City) have so many good players. The whole team basically!"

Three English players finished in the top 30 in the 2023 men's Ballon d'Or vote. Foden was not one of them.

Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham was 18th, one place above Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane, while Arsenal's Bukayo Saka came 24th.

Foden pictured (center) alongside England teammates Harry Kane (left) and Bukayo Saka (right) during a 2-0 win over Malta in November last year :: IMAGO/PA Images/Nick Potts