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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Jake Polden

Danny Murphy explains why Trent Alexander-Arnold will never win Ballon d'Or award

Danny Murphy says Trent Alexander-Arnold will never win a Ballon d'Or despite him being a "wonderful talent", simply because he's a right-back.

Murphy spoke out about the Liverpool defender after legendary Brazilian full-back Cafu heaped praise on Alexander-Arnold.

The World Cup winner referred to the young Reds star as a "sensational player" and a "rare talent", adding he has the potential to one day win the highly coveted Ballon d'Or award.

And while former Liverpool and Fulham star Murphy agrees Alexander-Arnold is a world-class operator, he can't see him winning a Ballon d'Or due to attacking players always being preferred.

Danny Murphy says Trent Alexander-Arnold will never win a Ballon d'Or award (Getty Images)

Murphy told talkSPORT: "I think he could've praised him without talking about the Ballon d'Or. The Ballon d'Or is generally for the goalscorers and the superstars isn't it? But he is a wonderful, wonderful talent.

"He won't win the Ballon d'Or. I think even in a midfield position it's difficult. Can he score goals from midfield and bend in free-kicks and open defences with his passing? Yes.

"But will that ever be enough to be enough to win a Ballon d'Or? [Luka] Modric won one, didn't he? Yeah, it's possible, you never say never, but I don't think so.

Cafu referred to the Reds star as a "sensational player" and a "rare talent" (Action Images via Reuters)

"There's that much talent around at the moment, defensively you think a centre-half like Virgil van Dijk would probably be one of the few who has the capability.

"But he's on a different level because he's an out-and-out defender."

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