The Ballon d'Or is by far the most prestigious individual player award in the world, and at some point in their career, every player in the game – no matter their level – has dreamed of winning it.

However, those who have been at their peak in recent years have been forced to take a backseat to both Cristiano Ronaldo (the current recipient) and Lionel Messi (the record holder) as they have dominated the prize since 2008.

Ronaldo has four victories, while Messi is ahead with five, and it would seem that they have the honour on lock for at least the next two years while others can only dream.

But with Ronaldo now comfortably in his 30s, his time at the very top of the game is limited, while Messi, who reaches the 30 mark in just two months time there is an argument to suggest that his time at the very top may start winding down soon.

There are of course a number of youngsters on their heels who will develop into world class players in the coming years, and speaking on BT Sport last night, Owen Hargreaves tipped one of them to become a future Ballon d'Or winner.

And while many believe Neymar will be the man to take the crown as the world's best player, the former England international is excited about the prospect of a player from the Bundesliga to give the Barca forward a run for his money.

German football fans will already be aware of the ability Borussia Dortmund's Ousmane Dembele has developed in a short space of time, and Hargreaves cannot wait to see how far he can go in the game.

The 19-year-old arrived at Dortmund last summer from French side Rennes, and has already made himself at home by chalking up eight goals in 40 appearances, earning himself five caps with the French national team in the process.

And Hargreaves thinks he is a player worth getting very excited about.

"'I think he has the potential [to win the Ballon d'Or]. I think he's going to be there," he told BT Sport.

"He has had a remarkable season for Dortmund already - he's had 17 assists in all competitions - and he's been devastating.

"He's magnificent with both feet and so quick, so powerful. Eventually, he's going to be in that Ballon d'Or conversation.

"He's that good a player. Everybody in Germany has been impressed by how talented a player he is at the stage of his career."

Dembele's Dortmund side were knocked out of the Champions League this week by Monaco, but he is already well underway in making a name for himself on the world stage.