Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has had the opportunity to work with and manage two of the world’s most talented footballers in Lionel Messi and Kevin De Bruyne, and the Catalan tactician reckons the latter can challenge the former for the coveted Ballon d’Or title … if he can deliver silverware, too.
De Bruyne has been a sensation at Manchester City since joining out of Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea in 2015, recording 17 assists and 11 goals in 37 matches in all competitions for the Premier League leader so far this season.
But with Messi and his rival Cristiano Ronaldo still ranking as favourites among the elites in the beautiful game, De Bruyne’s opportunity to win the Ballon d’Or trophy – given to the best player of any given year – may be somewhat limited. Either Messi or Ronaldo has won the award in each of the last 10 years, taking five apiece and leaving little for the rest of the world’s greats.
Still, Guardiola believes De Bruyne possesses all the qualities needed to challenge the two for the honour.
“No doubt,” Guardiola said of De Bruyne’s chances, as quoted by Sky Sports. “He …read more