Rio Ngumoha declares Ballon d’Or ambition as he prepares for England selection in Nations League
Rio Ngumoha, the 18-year-old Liverpool winger, said he is ready to make an impact for England at this week’s Nations League fixtures in Wembley and Madrid and has set his sights on winning the Ballon d’Or. Ngumoha has forced his way into Thomas Tuchel’s plans after an excellent start to the season and is pushing to take up a role vacated by more experienced players.
Ngumoha narrowly missed out on England’s World Cup squad last summer but impressed during the pre-tournament camp in Florida, helping to keep him in contention for senior selection. With Bukayo Saka injured and several senior figures omitted for these Nations League matches, the 18-year-old — dangerous on both flanks — has an opening to advance his case to the manager.
Speaking about Barcelona’s 19-year-old winger Lamine Yamal, Ngumoha said: “What he’s doing changed football for young players. He’s phenomenal. He’s one of the best in the world. Seeing what he can do so young inspires me and all the other young players in how we can just play freely. The way he plays, it’s like it’s his pitch. It’s a good challenge.”
Ngumoha recalled an early moment of vulnerability that he believes hardened him as a player: “I was six, maybe five, playing for a local team. I got an assist and I could hear my mum on the side saying well done. Then they started saying that I was playing with the older players and I just panicked and started crying. I walked off the pitch because I’m so scared because everyone was older than me. Then I realised after I could definitely have competed with them, so I’ve toughened up a bit.” He also described travelling across London to attend Chelsea training sessions after school and credited family support for his progress.
Ngumoha’s move from Chelsea’s academy to Liverpool in 2024 caused controversy; Chelsea expressed anger at the transfer and a tribunal ordered Liverpool to pay a minimum of £2.8m. Explaining his decision, he said: “I feel like I needed a new challenge. Liverpool gave me a new pathway. The plan that they set for me was straightforward. It was a no brainer. They just said if I prove myself then they know that I would definitely be a star for them in the making.” His older brother James now acts as his agent.
At 16, Ngumoha scored a last-minute winner for Liverpool against Newcastle on his Premier League debut last season. He said he manages attention by relying on his support network and avoiding social media noise, and listed Neymar, Eden Hazard and Mohamed Salah among his inspirations. On his playing style and mentality he added: “I’m quite fearless. If there’s an opportunity to beat my man I’ll always do it. It was the way I came up, playing in cages near my house. I’ve never really been told to stop. I like getting people off their seat.” He is on his third England camp and impressed as a substitute in a World Cup warm-up win against New Zealand in Tampa, prompting Tuchel to question whether he should have included Ngumoha in his tournament 26.
England have adjusted their defensive squad for the home Nations League game after Marc Guéhi and Ezri Konsa were ruled out of Thursday’s match with Croatia. Bournemouth defender James Hill received his first senior call-up after featuring for England under-21s and under-20s; Guéhi withdrew following an injury sustained in Manchester City’s defeat at Nottingham Forest on Saturday, prompting Dan Burn’s addition on Monday. Konsa will not face Croatia while following a fitness programme but is expected to be available for the Spain game on Sunday. Hill has played 15 times this season for Bournemouth, whom he joined from Fleetwood in 2022, and will compete with Jarell Quansah, Jarrad Branthwaite and Burn for a central-defence spot.
Ngumoha said he wants to supply England’s captain and forwards with service and that his initial nerves in camp evaporated quickly: “It was from the first training session. The shyness goes from the first time you touch the ball and step on the pitch. Then you realise it’s just football and you can play the way you play.” He could feature in England’s match against Croatia at Wembley on Thursday and, if selected, would then have the chance to face Spain in Madrid on Sunday, where he has said he would relish testing himself against Lamine Yamal.