A former Chelsea star has backed Nicolas Jackson to realise his potential and become one of the best strikers in world football.
Jackson arrived at Stamford Bridge in June 2023 in a £32m deal following an impressive campaign in LaLiga with Villareal.
The 23-year-old managed 17 goals from 44 appearances in all competitions during his maiden season in west London, and has started 2024-25 brightly under new Blues boss Enzo Maresca.
However, Kalidou Koulibaly has insisted that Jackson has the ability to go even further and one day stand in contention for football's highest individual honours.
In a recent interview Koulibaly claimed his countryman could become the first African to win the Ballon d'Or since George Weah nearly three decades ago.
'I hope he will continue to score,' Koulibaly told Give Me Sport.
'We know for all strikers life is goals, and Nicolas is no different. He has a good attitude and personality. And for me, he'll become the story of Senegal, just like Sadio Mane did.
'I am always telling him he has to follow Mane. And I hope he will be the best player in Africa and why not in the world? He has the talent, so all things are at his feet.
'Nicolas has to believe he can be this good. That is the most important thing. All the players who have won the Ballon d'Or believed they could.
'They all thought they could win this trophy. So you have to put this in Nicolas' head.
'Of course, I don't tell him to be selfish and ignore his teammates, but he has to think about the Ballon d'Or, and if you put this image in his head, he can achieve it. And that's what I tell him all the time.'
Koulibaly spent a single season at Chelsea after joining the club in 2022 during Thomas Tuchel's reign before departing for Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal the following summer.