England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo stated in a press conference that his teammate Jude Bellingham, a key player in their Euro opener win against Serbia (1-0), "can win the Ballon d'Or."

Mainoo, echoing the praise from his teammates and coach Gareth Southgate since Bellingham made a strong impact in the tournament, lauded the Real Madrid player and acknowledged that he could win one of the most prestigious individual trophies: "Yes, he can definitely win the Ballon d'Or. Everyone knows how fantastic he is as a player. We see it every day in training. He’s just as nice and demanding. He has high standards. Playing with him is great. He’s a Ballon d'Or contender," he said.

The 19-year-old Manchester United player debuted for England last March in a friendly against Brazil.

With Ghanaian parents, that day he definitively closed the door on the African national team and also spoke about his decision to commit to the English team: "I’m proud of my Ghanaian heritage, but it’s always been a dream to play for England. I’m happy to be here. I thought about it, but I want to play for England," he affirmed.

Mainoo thanked his United coach Erik ten Hag for the opportunities he has received. For the young Brit, it was crucial for his professional development as Ten Hag trusted him a lot to play for the club. "I’m happy to build things with him. I’ve won two trophies and hope there are more to come. I’m relaxed knowing he’ll be the coach when we return."

Additionally, he highlighted that he’s "ready to play" in England's next Euro match and stressed that he doesn’t mind whether it's coming off the bench or starting. "Obviously, there are other great midfielders in the squad, from the Premier League and abroad, like Jude Bellingham."

Regarding facing his club teammates Christian Eriksen and Rasmus Hojlund, he said he usually spends time with the latter because they are both young. However, he made it clear that if he faces Hojlund on Thursday, he’ll put their friendship aside to compete against the Danish player and hopefully secure a win.

He also mentioned one of England’s criticized players after their Euro debut. About Phil Foden, he said that when he has the ball, on the first touch, "it’s crazy because he’s so technical." He also had words for Declan Rice, one of his competitors for a spot in the lineup, stating that he’s worth "every penny he costs," adding, "He’s a very good player and has shown it in the Premier League and internationally.