Could Rice Be a Top Contender for the Ballon d’Or?

Owen Hargreaves believes Declan Rice could enter Ballon d’Or contention if he maintains his current progression. The former England midfielder made the claim on TNT Sports.

Rice is among the favourites for the PFA Player of the Year award. He has been a driving force in Arsenal’s midfield this season.

Season context and standings

Arsenal sit nine points clear at the top of the Premier League in the 2025/26 season. They have the chance to extend that lead to 12 points against Bournemouth on Saturday.

The game will take place at the Emirates Stadium and will be shown live on TNT Sports and HBO Max. Rice’s form has been cited as a core reason for the club’s strong position.

Why pundits are impressed

Hargreaves highlighted Rice’s statistical impact during TNT Sports’ The Breakdown. He focused on the player’s reliability and steady improvement.

Hargreaves recalled first seeing Rice at West Ham and noted the clear development since his move to Arsenal. He said different observers gave the same assessment: Rice delivers a dependable performance every match.

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown agreed on Rice’s upward trajectory. Keown suggested there is “more under the bonnet” and praised Rice’s pace when carrying the ball into the final third.

Keown added that having a partner like Zubimendi beside Rice has helped. That pairing has allowed Rice to advance more and act as an all-purpose midfielder.

Ballon d’Or and individual honours

Hargreaves suggested that, should Rice continue to develop, he could become a top contender for the Ballon d’Or in future seasons. He noted Rice has already put himself in a strong position for major individual awards.

Rice’s role in Arsenal’s title bid and his place on PFA Player of the Year shortlists underpin the argument. Continued consistency would strengthen any Ballon d’Or case.

Team impact and other praise

The pundits also praised goalkeeper David Raya for his importance to the side. Hargreaves described Raya as magnificent and said his presence matters greatly to Arsenal’s balance.

Rice’s performances, combined with key contributions from team-mates, have helped Arsenal reach this stage of the campaign. The coming fixtures will shape both the title race and individual award debates.

This report is published by Filmogaz.com. Matches and competitions mentioned are available to stream on TNT Sports and HBO Max.