Former Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly believes that current Blues striker Nicolas Jackson can one day win the Ballon d'Or.
Koulibaly, who spent just one season at Stamford Bridge following a £33 million move from Napoli in the summer of 2022, made the assertion during a recent interview with Give Me Sport.
"I hope he will be the best player in Africa and why not in the world? He has the talent, so all things are at his feet," the Al-Hilal defender said of his Senegal teammate.
Jackson, 23, joined Chelsea in the summer of 2023 from Villarreal, and enjoyed a solid debut season in West London, scoring 17 goals in all competitions.
This term, however, he's really come into his own, scoring six goals in just 10 Premier League games and earning widespread acclaim for his performances as the spearhead of Enzo Maresca's attack.
Koulibaly said that if Jackson is to go on to win the Ballon d'Or, the most important thing is that he believes in his own ability.
"Nicolas has to believe he can be this good," said the 33-year-old. "That is the most important thing. All the players who have won the Ballon d'Or believed they could. They all thought they could win this trophy. So you have to put this in Nicolas' head."
He added: "He has to think about the Ballon d'Or, and if you put this image in his head, he can achieve it."
Koulibaly enjoyed his time at Chelsea
Koulibaly's own time at Chelsea was not as successful as Jackson's has been.
There were high hopes for the Senegalese star following his move from Napoli, where over the previous eight seasons he had established himself as one of the finest centre-backs in world football.
At the Bridge, however, he struggled to replicate that form and left for Saudi Arabia after making just 32 appearances for the five-time Premier League champions.
Reflecting on his time at Chelsea with Give Me Sport, Koulibaly conceded that his spell at the club was shorter than he had hoped for, but that he still has fond memories.
"I enjoyed my time at Chelsea," he said. "It's true it was a little short. I couldn't show all my potential. But I am happy for them now. There's a better feeling at the club. Things are going good."
"Throughout my career, I don't have any regrets. I was happy to be part of Chelsea, but now my full focus is on Al-Hilal," he added.
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