Cole Palmer matches unique Neymar feat after Ballon d’Or announcement

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Cole Palmer finished in eighth place in the Ballon d’Or voting, the second-highest of any Premier League player.

Football’s most prestigious individual award was handed to PSG star Ousmane Dembele after an incredible campaign with the French giants.

Cole Palmer was the only Chelsea player to make the 30-man shortlist, after Club World Cup and Conference League triumphs.

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There was a mixed reaction to his top 10 finish. Opposing fanbases disagreed with such a high placement, but Chelsea fans were quick to back Palmer up. The achievement itself is commendable, but even more so with some historical context.

Cole Palmer the first player to make the Ballon d’Or top 10 without playing in the UCL since Neymar

Chelsea were competing in the third tier of European competition last season, but that hasn’t prevented Palmer from getting the recognition he deserves.

But it’s a rare feat, last achieved by a 19-year-old Neymar in 2011, when he was still at Santos.

Palmer led his team to the title of World Champions over the summer, something that should hold weight given the level of competition. He may not have maintained the same level throughout the Premier League campaign, but when he was in form, he was in serious form.

Now though, Palmer is back in the Champions League, and his first appearance against Bayern suggests he will thrive in the competition.

He will surely be looking to climb even higher up the rankings. He may even be looking to do what Neymar never managed and win the award.

Another Chelsea player has drawn comparisons to Neymar

Santos were almost certain Neymar would join Chelsea the summer following his top 10 finish. It was at a time when he was the hottest talent on the planet.

Many have claimed there hasn’t been another talent like Neymar to come out of Brazil, until very recently.

That talent is Chelsea’s new star, Estevao Willian.

The 18-year-old broke Neymar’s record for most goal involvements in a single season in the Brazilian Serie A, having followed a similar trajectory in the early years of his career.

As both Palmer and Estevao look to match one of their football icons, it will be interesting to see whose legacy comes closer to the legend of Neymar. It’s a race that will benefit Chelsea, that’s for sure.