Cole Palmer replicates rare Neymar achievement following Ballon d’Or reveal

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Cole Palmer secured eighth place in the Ballon d’Or award, making him the second-highest ranked Premier League player on the list.

PSG’s Ousmane Dembele claimed football’s top individual prize after a remarkable season with the French club.

Palmer was Chelsea’s lone representative among the 30 nominees, recognised for his part in their Club World Cup and Conference League successes.

There were mixed opinions about his top-10 finish. Fans from other clubs questioned whether he deserved to be so high, while Chelsea supporters were quick to defend him. The recognition stands out even more when you consider some history.

Cole Palmer achieves Ballon d’Or top 10 without UCL play for first time since Neymar

Even though Chelsea were playing in the third tier of European competition last season, Palmer still managed to earn plenty of recognition for his performances.

The last player to do this was a young Neymar back in 2011, before he made his move to Europe and was still at Santos.

While Palmer was not always at peak form throughout the Premier League season, when he hit his stride, he looked a class above. He also helped his club win the Club World Cup, an achievement that adds weight to his case.

The No.10 is now back in the Champions League, and early signs from his debut against Bayern suggest he will handle the step up just fine.

There is every chance Palmer will climb even higher next time around. He might even be eyeing what Neymar never achieved – actually winning it.

Chelsea’s Estevao Willian drawing comparisons to Neymar

After Neymar cracked the Ballon d’Or top 10, many believed a move to Chelsea was on the cards, especially given how highly rated he was at the time.

And while Brazil has always been a conveyor belt of talent, few have matched Neymar’s early hype – until now.

This time it is Estevao Willian, Chelsea’s 18-year-old forward.

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He recently broke Neymar’s record for goal involvements in a single season in Brazil’s top flight, and his rise through the youth ranks followed a similar path.

Both Palmer and Estevao are now looking to build careers that can stand up next to one of their heroes. No matter who gets there first, it looks like Chelsea will come out ahead either way.