Mikel Arteta has suggested that Declan Rice could be in the Ballon d’Or conversation if Arsenal keep winning at the highest level. His comments came shortly after his man-of-the-match performance in Arsenal’s strong 3-1 win over Bayern Munich, which was covered by SoftFootball in detail.
The midfielder played one of his best games of the season in that match, and the result pushed Arsenal to the top of their group, setting the tone for these bigger conversations around individual awards.
Arteta explained in a post shared by Fabrizio Romano on his official X account that the idea of Rice winning such a prize is connected to the team’s overall success, which is why he keeps stressing the collective part.
Fabrizio Romano posted:
Arteta on Declan Rice winning Ballon d’Or: I hope so! That would mean that we have won a lot, normally it is related to that.
He was immense the other day, I think he’s been immense since start of the season, and he’s an incredible and crucial player for us.
He pointed out how impressive Rice has been since August, highlighting his control of games and how much responsibility he takes in the middle of the pitch.
Another SoftFootball piece, which focused on Thomas Frank tipping Vitinha for the Ballon d’Or after his Champions League hat-trick, shows how these debates are growing around midfielders who influence matches at the highest level.
Rice has taken on a slightly different role this season, pushing a bit higher when Arsenal build attacks. It sounds small, but the shift has helped him produce more goals and assists than he usually does.
His numbers are not outrageous, but his involvement in almost everything Arsenal do has become hard to ignore. Arteta sees him as a player who reads situations quickly, leads quietly and rarely drops below a strong level.
There have been plenty of reactions within the football world. Some fans say Arsenal have never had a Ballon d’Or winner, so it feels like a long shot, while others believe that lifting the Champions League could change things. Rice himself seems quite relaxed about it all.
He now prepares for a meeting with Chelsea and a midfield battle with Moises Caicedo. Rice once voted for Caicedo in the PFA Team of the Year, so there is a bit of respect in that duel.
Arteta simply wants Rice to keep driving the team forward, because if Arsenal finish the season with major trophies, the award talk might not feel unrealistic anymore.
