The 23-year-old was not included among the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, with the award attracting considerable attention in France in recent weeks.
Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Lamine Yamal have all been involved in the discussion surrounding the prize, but Cherki offered a very different response when asked about his own ambitions.
The France international was asked by Téléfoot whether he dreams of eventually winning the Ballon d'Or.
“Not now,” Cherki replied.
“I’m a player who loves football. I’m not here to make calculations or play politics. I’m really here to be myself.”
Cherki's answer came during a period when the Ballon d'Or debate had become increasingly prominent, with several leading contenders speaking publicly about their hopes of winning the award.
For Cherki, however, the focus remains on his football rather than attempting to influence the voting.
The midfielder has also been handed an important opportunity under Zidane, who has taken charge of France following Didier Deschamps' departure.
Zidane has already made clear that he values players capable of operating between the lines, and Cherki fits that profile. The new France boss has described him as a genuine No.10 who can play between the lines and provide the type of creativity he wants from his team.
Cherki, meanwhile, was asked about the significance of having one of French football's greatest-ever players now in charge of the national team.
His response was emphatic.
“It’s incredible. And not just for me, for all my teammates and for all French people,” Cherki said.
“We all know his past as a player and as a coach, so it’s incredible.”
Asked whether Zidane still has the same aura he enjoyed during his playing career, Cherki added with a smile: “Mine too.”
The exchange captures the different perspective Cherki has on the arrival of Zidane. Rather than viewing the appointment simply through the tactical changes it could bring, the Manchester City player is also experiencing the presence of a figure who was an icon of French football long before Cherki began his own international career.
Zidane's first France squad has included Cherki among the technically gifted attacking players around whom he wants to build his side.
For Cherki, the immediate challenge is therefore not the Ballon d'Or.
It is establishing himself as an important part of Zidane's France and continuing to develop at club and international level.