Rio Ngumoha tips himself to achieve feat Steven Gerrard never managed at Liverpool

Young Liverpool star Rio Ngumoha has backed himself to achieve a feat which Steven Gerrard never managed in England.

After spending time in Chelsea's academy, Ngumoha joined the Reds last summer.

The 16-year-old was called up to Liverpool's first-team squad for the first time in December 2024, when he was named on the bench for an EFL Cup tie against Southampton.

Due to his age, Ngumoha is barred from using the same dressing room as first-team players but, given the impression he has made, he did not have to wait long to make his debut, starting in January's FA Cup third round victory over Accrington Stanley.

In doing so, he made history by becoming the youngest-ever player to start a first-team game for Liverpool.

And Ngumoha is not short on confidence when it comes to discussing what he believes he can achieve in the game.

Steven Gerrard is widely regarded as one of Liverpool's best-ever players. (Image: LFC Foundation / Contributor via Getty)

Speaking on an episode of Inside The Academy late last year, Ngumoha said: "I truly believe I can win the Ballon d'Or one day.

"I want to be regarded as one of the best players to ever play football and be a legend of the game.

"The love for football started when I was four or five. I was watching my brother and I wanted to be like him.

"I was going to academies from a young age and it was a big thing when so many clubs wanted to sign me.

"I have learned you have to be resilient and believe in yourself.

"You can have a few bad games but you have to have that belief that you are the best. For me, if I am in bad form I just put it behind me and work hard."

If Ngumoha wins the Ballon d'Or, he would become the first Liverpool player to do so since Michael Owen in 2001.

Rio Ngumoha during his Liverpool first-team bow. (Image: Liverpool FC / Contributor via Getty)

How excited are Liverpool fans about Rio Ngumoha?

Many Liverpool supporters are already excited about Ngumoha, especially on Reddit.

@ThatOne_268 wrote: "Definitely one to watch out for . Absolutely amazing in the recent games."

@DefinitelyNotBarney added: "I refuse to get ahead of myself of him and let him just develop. Can’t wait for him to bag 30g and 30a in 2028/29 season."

One reader suggested that he should be the sixth attacker as part of a rotation among Liverpool's forwards this year.

But @brianstormIRL was not convinced by that suggestion.

"Not sure he's ready for that physically yet," he said.

"He's still only 16 and has a lot of filling out to do before you would want to be relying on him.

"He's a trick on the eye but can see him getting thrown around a lot currently.

"Can see him continuing to train with the first team this year, maybe used in emergencies but a focus on developing his physicality to be loaned out then next season."