Real Madrid star Dani Carvajal revealed that he can imagine winning the Ballon d’Or this year while carrying out his media duties ahead of his team’s Champions League debut in the 2024/2025 season.

The veteran was recently named in the shortlist of 30 players for the France Football Awards for the best footballer in the world, along with his Bernabeu dressing room mates Vinicius Jr., Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe.

This is due in no small part to his success in winning the treble with Madrid last season, as well as winning the Euros with Spain in Germany. Carvajal was asked at a pre-match press conference if this had been the best season of his career, looking ahead to his team’s UCL debut against Stuttgart on Tuesday.

“In terms of dates and titles, yes,” said Carvajal, describing his achievements in the 2023/2024 season as “almost insurmountable.”

When asked if he saw himself as a winner of the Ballon d’Or, Carvajal asked: “Why not?”

“I dream about it. But just being there is an honor,” he added.

“Why not?” was another rhetorical remark from Carvajal when asked if his aim was to surpass Paco Gento, who also plays in Madrid, with six European Cup wins.

“Man, that’s clear. This is an unprecedented challenge. I still have a few years left, I could catch up. This year? Why not?” he said.

Since Carvajal has already stated that he will not play for any other European team apart from his boyhood club, he will have to extend his contract to have a chance of beating Gento if they fail to win the UCL title again in the next final in Munich on May 31, 2025.

His current term expires a month later, on June 30, and Carvajal stressed that his idea is to “continue as long as possible, but be realistic.”

“If I no longer feel I am performing at a sufficient level, I will resign. Of course, only if the club wants to continue using my services.”

Elsewhere in the press conference, Carvajal stressed that “the club has the responsibility” and that he is the one who has to “plan the squad”.

“After a certain age, the conditions have to be renewed every year and I have no problem with that as long as my conditions remain good,” he said.

At 32, Carvajal is still at the peak of his powers and is undoubtedly one of the best right-backs in the world, if not the best.