Liverpool and England’s Trent Alexander-Arnold has voiced a remarkable goal: to become the first full-back to claim the prestigious Ballon d’Or award. The 26-year-old right-back, who has made a name as one of the Premier League’s most dynamic players, believes he has the potential to achieve what no full-back has done since the award’s inception in 1956. Alexander-Arnold stated that, given the choice, winning a Ballon d’Or would mean more to him than lifting a World Cup trophy with England.
In a conversation with Sky Sports, he shared, “I want to be the first full-back to ever do it. It’s about waking up after your career ends and knowing you’ve given everything you had.” According to Alexander-Arnold, what matters most is not the number of titles collected but the effort poured into the game and whether he reached his peak performance.
Carving a Path to Greatness
The only full-backs to come close to the Ballon d’Or so far have been Real Madrid’s Roberto Carlos, who came second to Brazilian teammate Ronaldo in 2002, and England’s Lucy Bronze, who was a runner-up to the USA’s Megan Rapinoe in 2019’s women’s award. This year, Dani Carvajal from Spain and Real Madrid, along with Alejandro Grimaldo of Spain and Bayer Leverkusen, are both nominated for the 2024 men’s Ballon d’Or. The ceremony is set for Monday, adding further anticipation around the possibility of Alexander-Arnold’s vision.
The right-back’s impressive career at Liverpool—where he has already lifted the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup—has seen him make over 300 appearances for his boyhood club. Though Liverpool remains his home, Real Madrid is reportedly monitoring his situation, especially with his contract set to expire at the end of the season.
Leaving a Legacy Beyond Trophies
Alexander-Arnold’s ambitions go beyond personal accolades; he wants to be remembered as a “legend of football” and someone who redefined his position. Speaking on his vision, he said, “It’s not just about playing the game; it’s about changing it.” Former England manager Gareth Southgate also recognized his versatility by placing him in midfield for parts of Euro 2024, emphasizing his skillset’s depth.
Ultimately, Alexander-Arnold envisions himself as more than just a player. With goals set high, he aims to leave a legacy as the greatest right-back the sport has ever seen, reaching for the stars in his pursuit of footballing history.
