Former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole has identified Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers as two Blues players with the potential to win the Ballon d’Or. Speaking on TNT Sports ahead of Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over Manchester United on Saturday, Cole suggested that Harry Kane’s 2026 success has shifted the perspective on what English players can achieve. Cole argued that a player does not need to be identified as the world’s brightest teenager at 16 or 17 to eventually claim the sport’s highest individual honor. Cole highlighted how Kane’s triumph proves that a Ballon d’Or winner doesn’t have to be the brightest young player in world football at the age of 16 or 17. Then landed on the two forwards at Chelsea, he went with Jude Bellingham first.
The impact of Kane’s recent triumph, which saw him finish with 1,055 points at the London Palladium—surpassing Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal—serves as a benchmark. Kane secured the award after an impressive season featuring 73 goals in 65 appearances for Bayern Munich and England. He is the first English recipient of the prize since Michael Owen in 2001, providing a clear blueprint for current stars to emulate. Where he finished on 1,055 points, ahead of Kylian Mbappé (1,027) and Lamine Yamal (881), kane’s award came on Monday at the London Palladium. He scored 73 goals in 65 games for Bayern Munich and England last season, 61 of them in 51 club matches, and is the first English winner since Michael Owen in 2001.
Shortly after Cole’s comments, both Rogers and Palmer bolstered their reputations by scoring in the win against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. Rogers, signed from Aston Villa for a British record £117 million in July, netted the opening goal in the 50th minute after latching onto a pass from Roméo Lavia. The attacker has recorded six goals and four assists this season, totaling 10 goal involvements, a figure trailing only Erling Haaland’s 13 across all competitions.
Palmer added the second goal from the penalty spot in the 64th minute following a red card issued to Lisandro Martínez for a challenge on Wesley Fofana. This marked Palmer’s 50th Premier League goal for Chelsea, helping move the team to fourth in the league standings with 16 points. Palmer’s track record remains significant, having posted 25 goals and 15 assists during his debut campaign at Stamford Bridge, followed by 14 goal involvements in 34 matches last season despite dealing with injuries. Then managed 14 goal involvements in 34 outings last term as injuries interrupted him, he scored 25 goals and set up 15 in 45 appearances in his first season at Chelsea.
While it remains to be seen if either player can replicate the sustained output of Kane, Cole believes their trajectory and the recent success of the England captain provide a powerful source of motivation. Both players are expected to continue developing as they aim to establish themselves among the world’s elite in the coming years.
