Pep Guardiola: 'Kevin De Bruyne can win Ballon d'Or'

Pep Guardiola has tipped Kevin De Bruyne to become a future Ballon d'Or winner but insists that Manchester City must win trophies to put the Belgian in the running for the award.

"There is no doubt about that," Guardiola, asked about De Bruyne's Ballon d'Or credentials, is quoted by The Express as saying. "It is not one game, he is playing that way every three days over the whole season. The way he has played this season it is difficult to find anyone better in Europe. "But he knows – as everyone knows – that to be there [win the Ballon D'Or] you have to win titles, titles and more titles. Especially the Champions League. You have to be in the latter stages or you will not be nominated."