Louis van Gaal has claimed that Kevin de Bruyne has no chance of winning the Ballon d'Or, despite thinking the Manchester City midfielder should win it.
De Bruyne once again helped lead City to the Premier League title this season, and there's no doubt that he's become one of the best players on the planet in recent years.
The Belgian could pick up some individual honours in the coming months, to go alongside the latest league winner's medal, after being nominated for the PFA Players' Player of the Year award.
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In October there's even a chance he could pick up the Ballon d'Or, after France Football made changes to the award to name the best player in the world.
However, former Manchester United boss Van Gaal believes the City star won't ever pick up the award, despite believing that he should win it.
"Kevin De Bruyne, of course. For me, that's the winner of the Ballon d'Or," the Netherlands manager said ahead of his side's game against Belgium.
"But he won't be chosen any time soon.
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"They always pick attackers. In that respect, Noa Lang has a better chance than De Bruyne (laughs)."
Of course Luka Modric might argue that it's impossible for midfielders to win the award, and only Lionel Messi has won it since the Real Madrid midfielder did so in 2018.
It's only been handed out twice since then, with France Football deciding against handing it out in 2020 due to Covid, despite the fact that the football season carried on for pretty much everyone.
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That denied Robert Lewandowski the chance to win it, when the Bayern Munich forward was really the only candidate in the Covid year.
Messi even said last year that Lewandowski should have been given the award in retrospect, whilst De Bruyne also backed the Polish striker, claiming both years should have been taken into account in 2021.
Whilst Van Gaal thinks that some bias against midfielders will cost De Bruyne the award, there might be a slightly more obvious reason he doesn't win it this year.
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The 30-year-old is only sixth in the betting favourites and the outright number one is Karim Benzema, and it's no surprise considering the season he's had.
The Real Madrid forward was integral to his side winning La Liga but his contributions to the successful Champions League campaign really stands him out from the rest.
He scored hat-tricks against PSG and Chelsea, along with much needed second leg winners against Chelsea and City, before Carlo Ancelotto's side went on to beat Liverpool in the final.
Thierry Henry even called on France Football to end the voting now and just give it to Benzema, and it's pretty difficult to argue with him.
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Sorry Louis, it's going to another forward...
Topics: Kevin De Bruyne, Louis Van Gaal, Premier League, Manchester City
Ryan Sidle