Man City duo tipped to win Ballon d'Or next year alongside Erling Haaland

Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Tim Sherwood has claimed that the "door is open" for Phil Foden or Jack Grealish to win the Ballon d'Or next year.

Karim Benzema was announced as the winner of the 2022 Ballon d'Or award during a star-studded affair in Paris on Monday night. City themselves had six nominees on the 30-man shortlist, as Erling Haaland, Kevin de Bruyne, Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez, Joao Cancelo and Bernardo Silva were all recognised for their outstanding performances last season.

De Bruyne was voted as the third-best men's player in the world, and although no individual awards were handed out to any of the Blues, City were recognised as the Club of the Year. Pep Guardiola's side beat Liverpool (2nd) and Real Madrid (3rd) to the prize, as they won their fourth Premier League title in five years during a hard-fought campaign last term.

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Haaland's blistering start to the season has many people already lining the Norwegian striker up for the 2023 award, yet the former Tottenham manager thinks that one of Foden or Grealish could possibly stake a claim for highest individual accolade within the sport.

Sherwood told talkSPORT: “We’re going to see some new winners – obviously there’s going to be no more Messi and no more Ronaldo. We’ve enjoyed whilst it lasted but it’s time for the new breed. Mbappe possibly, certainly Haaland – I see him winning it because of his output which is incredible.

“Benzema is not gonna win it again and now the door’s open for perhaps Phil Foden or Jack Grealish or Harry Kane – he’s getting towards the end [of his career] now. Someone needs to step up. Move aside Ronaldo and Messi and open it up for someone