Bacary Sagna Tips Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki for Future Ballon d’Or Glory

Bacary Sagna, the former France international who represented both Arsenal and Manchester City during his playing career, believes Rayan Cherki has the qualities to one day claim football’s most prestigious individual honour, the Ballon d’Or.

Speaking to Oddschecker, Sagna was effusive in his assessment of the Lyon playmaker, drawing comparisons to the classic Brazilian footballers renowned for flair, improvisation, and technical mastery. “Cherki is special. You can tell by the way he plays that he is a showman and he is entertaining the whole crowd,” the former defender said.

Sagna attributed much of Cherki’s distinctive style to his background in street football, suggesting it has cultivated a fearless and expressive approach to the game. “You can see he is from the street by the way he plays. He reminds me of the Brazilian players with the ability to dribble, play and have a good touch,” he added.

Cherki, who turned 22 in August 2025, has long been regarded as one of European football’s most gifted young talents. The France youth international made his professional debut for Lyon at just 15 years old, becoming one of the youngest players in Ligue 1 history to do so. His technical ability, vision, and capacity to unlock defences in tight spaces have drawn widespread admiration from scouts and former professionals alike.

The Manchester City star has also attracted comparisons with Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal in recent months, with debate circulating across European football about which of the two represents the generation’s most complete attacking talent. Sagna’s endorsement adds further weight to the argument that Cherki belongs among the elite tier of young players capable of defining the next era of the sport.

Sagna himself earned 65 caps for France and won the FA Cup with Arsenal in 2014 before joining Manchester City, where he spent the final years of his club career. His experience at the highest level of European football lends credibility to his evaluation of what separates genuinely elite talent from those who fall short of sustained success.

The Ballon d’Or, awarded annually by France Football, has been dominated in recent decades by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, though the 2022 and 2023 editions saw Karim Benzema and Erling Haaland respectively challenge that duopoly. With both veterans now in the latter stages of their careers, the award landscape is increasingly open for a new generation of players to emerge as consistent contenders.

Whether Cherki can fulfil the potential Sagna and others see in him will depend on continued development, consistent performance at club level, and an eventual move to one of Europe’s top competitions — factors that will determine whether his trajectory leads to the Ballon d’Or podium in the years ahead.