Former England forward Gabriel Agbonlahor was left visibly bewildered during a recent appearance on talkSPORT’s Breakfast show when an Arsenal supporter made a startling prediction about teenage defender Myles Lewis-Skelly. The fan claimed that the young talent is destined to win the Ballon d’Or in the future, a statement that prompted an immediate, skeptical “Pardon?” from the pundit.
Lewis-Skelly, who emerged from the Gunners’ renowned Hale End academy in 2024, has already accumulated 75 appearances for the North London club across all competitions, contributing one goal and six assists. His rapid development saw him named among the 25 finalists for the 2025 Golden Boy award, which honors the top under-21 player in Europe. Following a standout 2025-26 campaign, he is widely expected to be in contention for the 2026 edition of that same honor.
Despite his status as a promising young prospect, the suggestion that he could reach the pinnacle of individual footballing success caught Agbonlahor off guard. The conversation occurred amid circulating reports that the 19-year-old has been offered to various Premier League teams, though the teenager remains reportedly committed to staying at the Emirates. Chelsea and Manchester United are among the clubs linked with interest in the defender.
The debate highlights a notable void in Arsenal’s history, as the club has never produced a Ballon d’Or winner. The closest any player has come while representing the Gunners was the legendary Thierry Henry. Widely considered one of the sport’s greatest icons, Henry recorded 228 goals and 107 assists in 377 appearances for the club.
In 2003, Henry finished as the runner-up for the Ballon d’Or after a remarkable season featuring 24 goals and a then-record 20 assists in the Premier League. His loss to Juventus’ Pavel Nedved remains a point of contention among many supporters. Henry later secured a third-place finish in 2006, while Dennis Bergkamp’s fourth-place finish in 1997 remains the only other instance of a Gunner coming close to the podium.
While the prospect of a defender like Lewis-Skelly winning the award remains a distant and unlikely scenario for many, Arsenal fans continue to look toward their current core. With established stars such as Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and Gabriel Magalhães in the squad, there remains a lingering hope that the club may eventually break its Ballon d’Or duck in the coming years.
After a stellar 2025-26 campaign, he is expected to be in the running for the 2026 edtition of the award as well.
Amid reports that the 19-year-old has been offered to multiple Premier League side and faces a potential departure from the Emirates, the supporter said
The fan explained the reasoning behind his startling claim
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