Trent Alexander-Arnold has dominated the headlines this week as he closes in on a move to Real Madrid.
Indeed, Alexander-Arnold is Madrid-bound, and, in a lot of ways, this is a great move for the defender.
As much as Liverpool fans will hate to hear it, Alexander-Arnold does have a greater chance of winning the Champions League with Real Madrid. After all, they are the 15-time champions of Europe.
However, on a personal level, this move will potentially jeopardise Alexander-Arnold’s chances of achieving one of his biggest dreams.
Indeed, Alexander-Arnold wants to win the Ballon d’Or, but if he joins Real Madrid, his chances of winning the Golden Ball may well be reduced.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Ballon d’Or dream
Alexander-Arnold has previously spoken about the fact he wants to win the Ballon d’Or.
The full-back says he believes he’s capable of winning the Ballon d’Or, hoping to become the first full-back to ever win the award.
“I believe I can,” Alexander-Arnold, told Sky Sports. “I want to be the first full-back to ever do it.
“It’s only the morning after you retire that you’re able to look in the mirror and say, ‘I gave it everything I got’.
“It doesn’t matter how many trophies you win, or how many medals you’ve got. It matters what you give to the game and if you reach your full potential.”
However, if Alexander-Arnold joins Madrid, his chances of winning the Ballon d’Or may well be reduced.
Why a Real Madrid move may harm Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Ballon d’Or chances
Winning the Ballon d’Or as a full-back is an uphill task – no full-back has ever done it, and no defender has done it in almost 20 years.
These days, trophy wins often decide who wins the Ballon d’Or – each of the last three winners have either won the Champions League or a major international tournament in their Ballon d’Or winning seasons.
For certain players, international triumph and a Champions League win can massively boost their Ballon d’Or credentials – Jorginho finished third in the voting in 2021 after winning the Champions League and the Euros.
Jorginho should’ve won the Ballon d’Or in some players’ eyes.
Meanwhile, Dani Carvajal finished fourth in this year’s voting after doing the same.
Is Dani Caravajal the fourth-best player in the world? Of course he’s not, but the Ballon d’Or voting is skewed in such a way that two major trophy wins will put you in the mix, even if you’re a full-back.
An international trophy and a Champions League win in the same year is Alexander-Arnold’s best route to the Ballon d’Or. However, therein lies the problem.
Let’s say that England win the World Cup in 2026 and Real Madrid win the Champions League too – Alexander-Arnold would be the Ballon d’Or favourite, right?
Sadly for the Liverpool ace, the answer is probably no. Jude Bellingham’s presence at Real Madrid will cause a big problem in Alexander-Arnold’s attempts to win the Ballon d’Or, as he’ll be able to boast the same silverware haul while playing ina more fashionable position and probably scoring and creating more goals.
If Alexander-Arold could win the Champions League and the World Cup in the same season at Liverpool – where he is by far the biggest name English player, he would potentially have a shot at Ballon d’Or glory. However, at Real Madrid, his path would almost certainly be blocked by Bellingham, and that’s before you even mention the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr.
Alexander-Arnold is a world-class player, and he’s certainly good enough to play for Real Madrid, but if he wants to win the Ballon d’Or, he may be best off staying at Liverpool.
