Xabi Alonso has helped a Chelsea star become a 'world-class player', who could one day win the Ballon d'Or, according to a veteran of the game.

Romeo Lavia has been tipped to one day win the Ballon d'Or, so long as he 'stays fit'. The Chelsea midfielder has enjoyed a promising start to the season, establishing himself as a key player for the Blues and Belgium.

In the absence of Moises Caicedo, who's been nursing a calf injury, and Enzo Fernandez, who eventually left the Blues to join Manchester City on deadline day, Lavia stepped up to the plate, filling the void in the middle of the park.

With Jordan Henderson still recovering from surgery on a broken arm and Valentin Barco still adapting to the English top flight, the 22-year-old was often partnered alongside a full-back in the double pivot, whether it be Reece James or Malo Gusto.

Despite a couple of disappointing results, losing to Arsenal and then drawing to Hull City, Lavia made a great impression, earning his first call-up to the Belgium squad in over three years. In the international break, the Blues star continued his excellent vein of form, earning the utmost praise from Mark van Bommel and Zinedine Zidane.

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Lavia featured in each of the four Nations League fixtures, starting both games against France and coming off the bench against Italy and Turkey. Although Belgium lost to Les Bleus at home and away, they won the other two matches.

He particularly caught the eye at the Stade de France in Paris on Monday night, despite losing 4-1. Lavia provided the assist for Dodi Lukebakio, who broke the deadlock after latching onto a brilliantly weighted long-range pass that carved open the French backline.

In Wednesday's print edition of Flemish newspaper Het Nieuwsblad, Hein Vanhaezebrouck showered the Chelsea star with praise. The former Anderlecht manager worked closely with Lavia during the 2017/18 season at the Belgian club.

"For me, he is the man of this break, along with Roméo Lavia," said Vanhaezebrouck, as quoted by Sport Witness. "Anyone with a Premier League subscription already knew it: Lavia is a phenomenon.

"One of the best midfielders in the world, provided he stays fit. I wonder what Chelsea thinks of the fact that he stayed on the pitch for 85 minutes twice. Usually, he is substituted after 65 minutes. But whenever he plays, it is ‘wow’."

Drawing comparisons to a certain Barcelona superstar, Lavia's former coach said: "It is often said of Rodri that he dictates the tempo, never loses possession, and always plays forward. Is Lavia of exactly the same calibre?"

On whether the Chelsea star is 'Ballon d’Or level', the 62-year-old said: "If he stays fit, he will become a player who qualifies for that. He has it all: good footwork, doesn’t lose the ball, [and] a low centre of gravity, which means he always turns away well.

"You can hang onto him, but he is so solid that he stays upright. The assist to Lukebakio, the ball to [Kevin] De Bruyne against France: he is constantly scanning as well.

"He has almost 360-degree vision. With Lavia, we are getting a world-class player that [Domenico] Tedesco and [Rudi] Garcia didn’t have."