SOCCER
Jorginho: Winning the Ballon d'Or would be an "incentive" for players who don't score goals
Chelsea and Italy midfielder Jorginho is hoping to win the Ballon d'Or and prove that the award is not just given out based on goals.
Jorginho believes it would provide an "incentive" for other players who do not score regularly and prove that goals are not the only factor in the award if he wins the Ballon d'Or.
The midfielder was crowned UEFA Men's Player of the Year in August after winning the Champions League with Chelsea and Euro 2020 with Italy.
The 29-year-old has been named on the shortlist for the Ballon d'Or, but Lionel Messi remains the favourite for the gong, with Robert Lewandowski also a strong contender.
Jorginho - who scored eight goals in all competitions last season – says it would demonstrate that finding the back of the net is not essential for players to be the best on the planet.
Jorginho on Ballon d'Or
"It’s not up to me to say if I should win the Ballon d’Or, but it would be an incentive for other players, to show that not only goals are taken into account," Jorginho said to Globo Esporte.
"I don’t want to have too many expectations, but I would be hypocritical if I said I don’t think about [winning] it. It’s great if it happens, but if it doesn’t, I won’t complain.
"I keep my feet on the ground and I focus on something else, I’ve already won the best player of the year by UEFA."
Jorginho also confirmed that he opted not to represent his native Brazil in 2016, choosing instead to wait for an Italy call-up, having moved to the country at the age of 15.
"[Brazil] tried to convince me, but in the end I chose Italy, otherwise I would have been ungrateful," Jorginho continued.
"It would not be bad to win the World Cup. The Champions League and the Euros can’t be underestimated, but the World Cup goes beyond anything else.
"We won’t be the favourite in Qatar, but we can’t go unnoticed as we won the Euros."
Italy are locked in a fierce battle with Switzerland to finish top of World Cup qualifying Group C. They are level on 14 points, with the Azzurri just ahead on goal difference, and face off on Friday in a potentially decisive clash.