Joe Cole has named Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers as the two Chelsea players capable of winning the Ballon d’Or. The former Chelsea star believes Harry Kane’s triumph in 2026 has shifted what is possible for England players.
Speaking on TNT Sports before Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, Cole was asked to pick the next English winner of the Ballon d’Or.
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He went with Jude Bellingham first, then landed on the two forwards at Chelsea. Cole stated:
“Cole Palmer could do it. We’ve got so much talent. Look at the players… Morgan Rogers, the way he has started.”
Cole highlighted how Kane’s triumph proves that a Ballon d’Or winner doesn’t have to be the brightest young player in world football at the age of 16 or 17. He added:
“These players can step up. Harry Kane has opened the door for all of them to say, ‘If Harry Kane can do it…’ You don’t have to be Lamine Yamal at 16/17, the brightest young player in world football.”
Both Rogers and Palmer scored in the 2-0 win over Manchester United after Cole made these comments. Rogers opened the scoring in the 50th minute after collecting Roméo Lavia’s pass inside his own half. He ran through a hesitant United defence and lifted a finish over Senne Lammens.
Palmer doubled the lead from the penalty spot in the 64th minute, after Lisandro Martínez was shown a second yellow card for an arm into Wesley Fofana’s face. It was Palmer’s 50th Premier League goal for Chelsea, and the win lifted the Blues to fourth in the Premier League table with 16 points.
Harry Kane winning Ballon d’Or should motivate Chelsea duo Palmer and Rogers
Kane’s award came on Monday at the London Palladium, where he finished on 1,055 points, ahead of Kylian Mbappé (1,027) and Lamine Yamal (881). He scored 73 goals in 65 games for Bayern Munich and England last season, 61 of them in 51 club matches, and is the first English winner since Michael Owen in 2001.
Rogers, a British record £117 million signing from Aston Villa in July, has six goals and four assists in all competitions this season, a tally of 10 goal involvements bettered only by Erling Haaland’s 13.
Palmer’s case rests on a higher ceiling. He scored 25 goals and set up 15 in 45 appearances in his first season at Chelsea, then managed 14 goal involvements in 34 outings last term as injuries interrupted him.
It remains to be seen whether either can turn a strong autumn into the kind of season Kane has just produced. But they will take a lot of inspiration from the fact that their England captain won the Ballon d’Or so convincingly.
Edited by Nived Zenith
