'Top of the world': Florian Wirtz makes EXTRAORDINARY Ballon d'Or prediction

Florian Wirtz briefly became the most expensive player in British football history over the summer.

Liverpool spent a sum that could reach £116m on the German playmaker - who was a German league and cup double winner with Bayer Leverkusen in 2023/24.

Wirtz is regarded as one of the best playmakers in Europe and the Reds beat out competition from Real Madrid and Manchester City for his signature.

It’s fair to say it’s not been the easiest of starts to life at Anfield for Wirtz.

Wirtz thinks he will win the Ballon d'Or

Although he has been the centrepiece of Arne Slot’s attack - the No7’s numbers are currently not stacking up.

He’s without a goal or an assist so far - but it’s only a matter of time before Wirtz excels for the Reds. It’s clear that Liverpool believe in Wirtz - who is under contract at Anfield until 2030.

And the player himself is possessed of unshakeable self-confidence - as evidenced by his prediction that he will one day win the Ballon d’Or.

Wirtz coach backs Ballon d'Or claim

Liverpool are destined to be in the shakeup for the biggest honours in the game over the next few years and there is no reason why Wirtz cannot challenge for the top individual prize.

In an interview relayed by Sky Sports, his former FC Koln youth coach Markus Daun revealed that Wirtz declared himself a Ballon d’Or winner of the future.

And given the challenges Wirtz has overcome in the early stages of his career, Daun is backing his former charge to fulfil his destiny.

'You can achieve it'

“I once asked him in a meeting about his career goals,” he said.

“All the guys from the team said things like, “I will be German championship winner this year,” or “I will be in the starting eleven.” Florian said, “I will win the Ballon d’Or in future.”

Wirtz interjects: "I was saying this every day when I was younger."

Then Daum added: “Normally I would say, “Okay, please stay realistic,” but in this case I said, “Okay, go your way and you can achieve it.

“This guy has had big challenges in his life—also at a very young age, up to under-17—with big injuries.

“He broke his leg, but he came back much stronger than before. That’s because of his focus and his mentality. I knew from the beginning that he would go his way to the top of the world.”

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