Mohamed Salah is among the favourites to win the Ballon d’Or following his sensational season with Liverpool and the Egyptian has been told team honours will aid his cause
Arne Slot insists Mohamed Salah has to win team prizes if he wants to land the Ballon d’Or at the end of the year.
The Liverpool frontman is in the midst of, statistically, his best season ever and the Egyptian is being talked up for a host of individual prizes. He’s scooped numerous awards over his career, twice landing the PFA Player of the Year award, but the Ballon d’Or has eluded him.
Salah’s individual efforts have him among the favourites to land the Golden Ball at the end of the year – which would make him only the second African to do so in history.
Slot has maintained that his chances will be enhanced if his individual numbers result in trophies – and that is on course to happen. Liverpool are clear in the Premier League, among the favourites for the Champions League and in the final of the Carabao Cup.
The Liverpool boss said on his chances: “It’s mostly about attackers but the last winner was a midfielder. Good thing Mo is in discussion as that means he is doing well and that means we are doing well. In general, someone who wins the Ballon d’Or needs to win something as well.
“What I liked a lot is that he takes this challenge with a big goal and assist vs City but his defensive work-rate in the second half particularly was outstanding. If we as a team win something he has a far better chance to win the Ballon d’Or. It would make his chance only bigger (if we win the Champions League) but the last one who won it didn’t.
“It’s not just about the amount of prizes you win, but most of the ones who won the league or Champions League. But football is always like this – you need the team to win an individual prize. But Mo understands that.”
Rodri won the award in 2024 and that came after he’d landed a fourth successive Premier League title before winning the Euros with Spain, where he was named the best player at the tournament.
Salah could end up with numerous trophies come May and will then be tipped to be among the potential winners for the Ballon d’Or – so far fifth in his best finish.
The club who wins the Champions League often sees one of its players land the award and the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jnr are expected to be contenders.
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