Mohamed Salah has been Liverpool’s standout star on their romp towards the Premier League title and Rio Ferdinand is backing the Egypt international to win a first Ballon d’Or later this year
Rio Ferdinand is expecting Mohamed Salah to be named the world’s best player at the end of 2025 – provided Liverpool go far in the Champions League.
Egypt star Salah, 32, has racked up 30 goals and 22 assists in all competitions already this season and has led Arne Slot’s team to a 13-point lead in the Premier League.
And ahead of Wednesday evening’s Champions League round of 16 first leg away to in-form Paris Saint-Germain, Ferdinand reckons Salah is streets ahead of the competition for football’s biggest individual prize right now.
“Right now at this moment in time, I don’t think there’s anyone else on the podium with him,” Ferdinand said. “But I think with the way the Champions League works, as you get through the knockout stages and someone starts coming to the fore, they end up there.
“It comes down to moments in big games, really. You can throw Salah in there, you can throw [Ousmane] Dembele in there if PSG go far. [Kylian] Mbappe will be there, [as will] Vinicius [Junior] and [Jude] Bellingham.
“Whoever keeps their status and turns up in the semi-final and final will win it. If they [Liverpool] win the Champions League, I’m sure he’ll play a big part.”
Slot last week backed Salah to win the individual title for the first time in his career – despite the growing possibility he will be at another club by the time it is awarded in the opening months of next season.
Speaking after the Premier League win against Newcastle at Anfield, Slot said: “It’s a good thing that Mo is in the discussion because it means he does well and it means that we are doing well.
“But for him to stay in that discussion, he should bring in the same performances as he’s done for seven or eight months now.
“I think, in general, someone that wins the Ballon d’Or needs to win something as well, so it’s a great challenge that’s in front of us but also in front of him.”
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