Valverde: Bielsa Labels a Real Madrid Midfielder as a Ballon d'Or Contender

Valverde: A New Ballon d'Or Contender, Says Bielsa

Valverde's status as a Ballon d'Or contender has been endorsed by Marcelo Bielsa, the Uruguay national team coach, who praises the Real Madrid midfielder for world-class quality and leadership.

Bielsa notes that "Fede" is a midfielder of a different kind, capable of playing deep in the middle, on the wings, or behind the forwards with the same ease.

He highlights his versatility, explaining he can operate as a holding midfielder, an advanced playmaker, or behind attackers, performing in all three roles without a hitch.

Bielsa points out what sets Valverde apart: his ability to craft decisive plays from the right and deliver crosses from the left, a combination that differentiates him from peers like Pedri and Vitinha.

He even puts Valverde on the Ballon d'Or shortlist, while cautioning about the challenge ahead—from opponents and, importantly, from within his own club Real Madrid.

“Valverde has all the ingredients to win the prize,” Bielsa says, but acknowledges the competition remains fierce, even within Real Madrid, with names such as Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé in the mix.

He adds that individual awards depend on personal performance within the group, the value of teammates around the player, and the titles a team collects.

In Bielsa's view, Valverde is undoubtedly one of the best players in the world today due to his extraordinary adaptability to the modern game.

Punchlines: If Valverde keeps this up, the Ballon d'Or committee might start charging him rent for all the space he occupies.

Punchline 2: And if the trophy cabinet needs a bigger shelf, don't worry — Valverde will handle the installation with a perfect through-ball.