KEVIN DE BRUYNE is convinced he is ready to knock Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi off their Ballon d’Or perches.
Portuguese legend Ronaldo and superstar Messi have dominated the world’s top player award over the last ten years or so.
Kevin De Bruyne (inset left) says he can take the Ballon d’Or crowns off Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo (right)
Argentine Messi has lifted the crown six times, while Juventus star Ronaldo has won it five times.
And Manchester City and Belgium star De Bruyne thinks his game is getting to a level where he can usurp the two greats as they come close to the end of their careers.
De Bruyne has been a revelation this season after missing much of last term with injury.
He has starred as City have moved towards a Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup treble.
Thew 28-year-old attacking midfielder told Sky Sports: “I’m probably not too far.
“I just try to be the best I can be. Who decides that [the best footballers], I don’t know, but I think I’m pretty close.
“It helps [being nominated for the Ballon d’Or], but first and foremost is team performance.
“I know if the team performs well and I perform with them, I will get the accolades.
“Over the last few years, I’ve been in contention for the top 30 in the world and it feels good because you work very hard in your profession and to be acknowledged as being really good at what you do is always nice to hear.
“I think I’m more of a complete footballer than I was a few years ago.
“It gives me the motivation to stay there and be on top for as long as I can because football is for a short period of time and I just want to be the best version of what I can be.
“I think I’m doing really well and I feel comfortable and happy with the way I’m performing.”
De Bruyne will also be key this summer as Belgium try to lift Euro 2020.
With Barcelona talisman Messi 33 in June and Ronaldo hitting 36 next February, the two stars who have dominated football in the 21st century will certainly be on the wane in the next few years.
The time will surely come for the likes of De Bruyne, France superstar Kylian Mbappe, Belgium’s Eden Hazard and Holland defender Virgil van Dyke.
De Bruyne, set to play in the Carabao Cup final against Aston Villa tomorrow, has won the Premier League title twice with City.
He won the FA Cup and Carabao Cup last season with City and also won the League Cup in the 2017/18 season.
De Bruyne joined the Etihad side from German club Wolfsburg in 2015 for £54million after a spell at Chelsea.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
