Jude Bellingham has 'massive chance' to lift Ballon d'Or with a strong Euro 2024 for England - Michael Owen

Jude Bellingham has a "massive chance" to win the Ballon d'Or if he shines in the UEFA Champions League final and England go far at Euro 2024, believes Michael Owen.

The former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Manchester United forward is no stranger to football's highest individual honour, having won it himself in 2001. 

Bellingham could become the first Englishman to win the prize since a 22-year-old Owen finished ahead of Raul and Oliver Kahn, and after inspiring Los Blancos to their 36th La Liga title this season, the ex-Birmingham midfielder will be among the favourites. 

With a Champions League final - to be shown live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - against former club Borussia Dortmund and a chance to win England's first major trophy since 1966 still to come this summer, Owen insists the midfielder could take home the famous prize.

"The Ballon d'Or comes to players who have an exceptional season, not only personally, but who have had a season where they have won something or multiple titles," Owen told TNT Sports.

"If Jude Bellingham goes and wins La Liga, which he already has done, as well as the Champions League all while being one of the stars of the show in that team, then he has got to be in the conversation. 

"A lot will depend on Euro 2024 with England, if he has a good tournament and England go far then you could rightly say that he has a massive chance." 

Bellingham looks set to finish the season as Madrid's top scorer in all competitions with a record of 23 goals and ten assists in 37 matches. 

At just 20 years old, he already cuts a talismanic figure, and Owen believes he will be looking forward to a trip to Wembley with his club side. 

"I think Jude Bellingham will be absolutely loving and looking forward to this match," he said. 

"I don't really buy into pressure, I must admit. 

"I think in any walk of life we are all trained to deal with or adapt to certain situations in any form of life, it just so happens that Jude Bellingham is a great footballer. 

"When you go out to perform your skill, like any other place of work, when you turn up you do it, you are confident you can do it, you have practiced doing it. 

"He has done the hard yards, he knows he can go out there and perform in front of the audience, the media and his fellow professionals." 

Madrid reached their 18th Champions League final with a dramatic 4-3 aggregate win against German giants Bayern Munich. 

Owen believes Madrid will be comfortable favourites at Wembley after showing they have the experience to perform on the grandest stage. 

"You have to think that it is a Real Madrid victory," he said. 

"It is quite incredible, what Real Madrid have done in recent years. 

"They have been a dominant force in this competition for a long time and often they have been the best team.

"They have been in the past, but I can't help but feel there have been better teams in recent years. 

"Liverpool in the final probably outplayed them, Thibaut Courtois was the man of the match. 

"It feels like every season they have drawn Manchester City but I think two out of the last three years they have knocked City out. 

"They have got something, it is that experience, it is that badge, it is that heritage and everything about it that sees them get over the line. 

"They know how to win, it is quite incredible that they are so dominant in this day and age when there are some seriously good teams around." 

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