Luke Shaw believes there is no reason why Manchester United teammate Marcus Rashford can't one day win the prestigious Ballon d'Or.
It's easy to forget that Rashford is still just 22 years old as he's been an ever-present in the United first team since breaking through as a teenager under Louis van Gaal.
There have been ups and downs along the way but the England international has firmly established himself as one of United's most important players, especially after enjoying his best goal scoring campaign this season.
Rashford has 19 goals and six assists to his name so far even though he has been out on the sidelines with a serious back injury since January, which would have likely ruled him out for the rest of the season had the Premier League not been suspended for three months due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Instead, Rashford has used the hiatus to recover - as well as spend time doing inspirational charity work - and is ready to get back to the action against Tottenham on June 19, no doubt with the aim of adding more goals to his tally.
Shaw has seen first-hand how Rashford has matured as a player and a person over the years and has tipped him to one day win football's greatest individual accolade.
“He’s improved greatly from when he first came on the scene, not just on the pitch, but off the pitch as well,” Shaw told United’s official website when asked by a fan if Rashford could ever win the Ballon d'Or.
“He’s matured so much. He’s really turned into a man and I think everyone’s seen the way he’s conducted himself off the pitch; especially during this pandemic, he’s been unbelievable.
“He’s a massive example to everyone. He’s matured so much and a lot of credit for that goes to him and also to his family, who have kept him very grounded.
“He’s a big inspiration for a lot of young people, especially the ones who are coming through from Manchester,” Shaw added on Rashford, who he works with at club and international level.
"In Marcus, they’ve got someone to look up to not just on the pitch but off it too, which is really nice to see. As a player, he’s improved so much but he always wants to learn, always wants to get better and, to me, he’s getting better every time I see him play.”
“He’s looked unstoppable at times this season and he’s looked so confident. I haven’t seen that in him before. He was always confident, but not to this level, and he’s matured so much.
“He knows he has the ability to be one of the best and he’s pushing himself all the time to maximise that. There’s no reason why, if he keeps going, keeps pushing himself, that he can’t win it [the Ballon d'Or] one day.”
