Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba has revealed his ambition to win football's most prestigious individual honor, the Ballon d'Or, claiming that three Premier League stars have backed him to achieve this feat in the future.

In an interview with SunSport, the Cameroonian midfielder disclosed that Arsenal's Declan Rice, Wolves' Matheus Cunha, and Newcastle's Joelinton have all expressed confidence in his potential to claim the coveted award.

"Declan Rice, Matheus Cunha, Joelinton, they have all told me I have got it in me [to win the Ballon d'Or]," Baleba stated.

The 23-year-old midfielder, who joined Brighton in 2023 from French club Lille, cited Manchester City's Rodri as inspiration after the Spanish international became the first defensive midfielder in recent history to win the award in 2024.

"I want to win the Ballon d'Or like Rodri [won it in 2024]," Baleba added. "His success [with Spain at the 2024 Euros and Manchester City winning the 2024 Premier League title] has opened the door for midfielders like us to believe we can win the Ballon d'Or someday."

Despite his lofty ambitions, Baleba is not currently among the favorites for this year's award due to his performances and Brighton's results this season. The midfielder will need to significantly elevate his game and achieve greater team success to be considered a serious contender in the future.

Rodri's breakthrough victory last year marked a significant shift in Ballon d'Or voting patterns, which have traditionally favored attacking players. The Manchester City star's triumph came after leading Spain to European Championship glory and helping his club secure another Premier League title.

For Baleba to realize his dream, he would likely need to make a similar impact at both club and international levels, potentially requiring a move to a club regularly competing for major honors.