Rio Ferdinand picks Bayern Munich star as future Ballon d'Or winner

Musiala’s impressive development has made him a cornerstone of Bayern’s attacking line.

Musiala was one of the very few Bayern Munich players who made a decent performance against Lazio on Wednesday.

The German international’s solo runs weren’t enough to save Bayern from a 1-0 defeat at the Olimpico Stadium. But the German youngster earned praise from Rio Ferdinand, who sees him as a possible Ballon d’Or winner.

“I love Musiala,” Ferdinand told TNT Sports. “We talk about him a lot. I don’t know where his ceiling is.

“It’s nice to see the comments from his teammates saying how diligent he is and how much of a professional he is. [Leon] Goretzka says he might be the best talent Germany has ever had.

“The way he moves and glides with the ball. I see a Ballon d’Or at some point in his career if he fulfils that potential.”

Musiala has continued to develop under Thomas Tuchel despite Bayern’s struggle for consistency this season. Back-to-back defeats against Bayer Leverkusen and Lazio have left the Bavarians in a tough position to keep their title hopes alive in the Bundesliga and the Champions League. But Ferdinand believes Musiala’s elite mentality is evident from the way he handles the pressure.

“He doesn’t seem like the type that’s going to get too high when he’s winning or too low when it’s not going well,” Ferdinand added.

“It’s the ones who get too high when it’s going well who lose themselves and fall off a cliff after two or three years at the top. This kid will be at the top for the next 10-12 years.”