Declan Rice has played down Ballon d’Or talk after being billed by some as the “best midfielder in the world”, insisting he remains the same person despite his rise with Arsenal and England.
The Gunners and Three Lions star has been asked about individual accolades following another standout spell at the top level, but Rice was keen to shift the focus away from personal recognition.
“Just Dec from Kingston,” Rice said when responding to the growing hype around his status and the suggestion he could be in the Ballon d’Or conversation.
Rice has become a key figure for both club and country, with his performances regularly earning praise, yet he stressed that his mindset has not changed and that he is more concerned with doing his job for the team.
The England international has previously spoken about staying grounded, and he reiterated that message again as the talk around awards and global rankings continues to follow him.
While the midfielder acknowledged the compliments, he made it clear he is not getting carried away, preferring to let his football do the talking as Arsenal push on and England prepare for their next challenges.
