
Former Chelsea midfielder Emmanuel Petit has weighed in on Cole Palmer’s burgeoning potential, claiming the Chelsea youngster could achieve his dream of winning the Ballon d’Or—provided he overcomes stiff competition from the likes of Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior, and Kylian Mbappe.
Speaking about the 21-year-old Palmer, Petit highlighted the magnitude of the challenge ahead, emphasising that consistency and performing at the highest level are key to achieving such lofty ambitions.
“He [Palmer] has to show his abilities every single weekend. This is what he’s doing right now. He’s been playing like that now for 16 months already,” Petit said. The French World Cup winner praised Palmer’s form but was quick to underline the importance of proving his worth beyond domestic competitions.
“If he wants to reach his dream, he has to do that on the highest level. Which means the Champions League and as well with the national team,” Petit added.
When asked about players who might rival Palmer in the race for football’s most prestigious individual accolade, Petit named three exceptional talents: “Lamine Yamal at Barcelona, Vinicius, or maybe [Kylian] Mbappe, if he comes back.”
Since joining Chelsea from Manchester City in the summer, Palmer has quickly established himself as a key figure under Enzo Maresca.. However, as Petit points out, sustained brilliance on a global stage will be the real measure of his potential to compete with the likes of Mbappe, Vinicius, and Yamal for the Ballon d’Or.