Former Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly has expressed his belief that Nicolas Jackson has the potential to become a world-class player and even win the prestigious Ballon d’Or in the future.
Speaking about the Senegalese forward, Koulibaly emphasized the importance of self-belief in achieving such an elite status. He pointed out that all past Ballon d’Or winners had one thing in common—the confidence that they could reach the top. He urged Jackson to adopt the same mentality, believing in his ability to compete at the highest level.
“Nico Jackson has to believe he can be world-class and win the Ballon d’Or,” Koulibaly stated. “All the players who have won it believed they could. So this is something that needs to be in Nico’s head.”
However, the former Chelsea center-back clarified that this mindset should not make Jackson selfish. He encouraged the striker to maintain teamwork while still setting his sights on individual greatness.
“I’m not saying he should ignore his teammates, but he has to think about the Ballon d’Or. He needs to trust himself and work hard.”
Jackson, who joined Chelsea in 2023, has shown glimpses of brilliance, and Koulibaly’s words may inspire him to push for greatness.
