Cole Palmer’s 2024‑25 campaign firmly established him as one of world football’s most exciting young talents. Following his move from Manchester City to Chelsea, he posted an impressive 25 goals and 15 assists across all competitions in his debut season, earning both the Premier League Young Player of the Season and Chelsea’s Player of the Season awards
His influence soared during the 2025 UEFA Conference League final and the FIFA Club World Cup final. In the Conference League, he provided two assists in the comeback victory over Real Betis to seal Chelsea’s unique haul of all five UEFA trophies .
Then at the Club World Cup, he scored twice and assisted once in a dominant 3–0 win against PSG, won Player of the Match honors, and claimed the tournament’s Golden Ball award
That standout performance caused his Ballon d’Or odds to tumble—from 200/1 down to 16/1—placing him among the elite contenders behind the likes of Ousmane Dembélé, Lamine Yamal, and Vitinha
Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola and former England star Emmanuel Petit have specifically endorsed Palmer’s potential to win the Ballon d’Or in coming years. Petit even went as far as comparing his style to Zidanes and highlighting that maintaining consistency across the Champions League and international tournaments will be key .
Zola emphasized his belief that, with continued development under manager Enzo Maresca, Palmer could enter contention soon
However, not all agree. Former striker Darren Bent cautioned that a dip in productivity—dropping from 25 to 16 goals in the latest season—weakens his case, and he currently doesn’t list Palmer among his top‑10 players globally
While he may not yet be the favorite, Palmer’s rapid progression, trophy‑winning performances, and endorsements from respected figures make a compelling case that he could be one of the frontrunners for the Ballon d’Or in 2026, provided he keeps up his contributions in top‑level competitions.
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