Liverpool strengthened their status as the favourites for the Premier League title with a victory over Manchester City on Sunday. The Reds claimed a 2-0 win at the Etihad Stadium, with goals from Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai ensuring the victory and the three points.
Arne Slot’s side are now 11 points clear of Arsenal, who have a game in hand, as the title race continues. Liverpool are the overwhelming favourites to win the league this season, with Salah earning plenty of plaudits for his performance in Manchester over the weekend.
Salah broke several records with his performance for Liverpool on Sunday, with his 30th goal and 21st assist in all competitions this season. The Egyptian, who remains out of contract with the Reds in the summer, has been mentioned as the favourite to win this year’s Ballon d’Or award, which was won by Rodri of Man City just four months ago.
Salah has been tipped to win the award in the past, with former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger the latest notable name to tip the Liverpool star to win the trophy. Here, we debate whether or not Salah will win the Ballon d’Or in 2025.
Mark Wakefield
If we’re being honest, Mohamed Salah has been rather unlucky when it comes to winning awards and trophies across his Liverpool career, both on an individual and team level. Whether it be not winning as many Premier League titles as he and the Reds deserve, or not being in contention for the individual prizes, it seems things could be different this year.
Pretty much everyone who has watched the Premier League regularly this season would say that Salah has been the best player since the campaign began in August. With 51 goal involvements across all competitions, include 41 in the top flight, it seems ridiculous to say that there are still three months left of the season and more success to be won.
If Salah continues his current form until the end of the season, it would be one of the biggest shocks if he was not to win the Ballon d’Or this year. Even if Liverpool do not win a major trophy, which seems unlikely at this stage, then it would still take nothing away from what Salah has done this season.
You get the impression that Liverpool may need to win the Champions League to make sure Salah gets the award in October. But even if that happens or not, the Egyptian clearly deserves to be honoured as the best player in the world on his current form.
Richard Garnett
The chances of Mohamed Salah winning the Ballon d’Or are not quite as nailed on as you might expect. For starters, if he does achieve the esteemed feat he will become only the second-ever African footballer to win the award after George Weah. He also needs to contend with the fall-out of Real Madrid star Vinicius Jnr. failing to win it last year, which led to Los Blancos kicking up a bit of a stink.
Kylian Mbappe is another Madrid star who will expect to be in the running, but despite all that, Salah’s figures are undeniable. However, I do feel that winning the Premier League alone will not be enough for the Egyptian. Only if he secures a Champions League triumph and plays a significant role in the final do I truly believe that our European counterparts will take his claim seriously. The good news is he is capable of doing it.
Amie Wilson
There’s no doubt that Salah is one of the top performing players in Europe so far this season – you only have to look at his numbers to see that. If he continues, then surely he will have to be among the favourites to lift the prestigious award at the end of the season, but he will face competition. Kylian Mbappe will be among those that will be up there with him.
I think the Champions League could have a big say. With it looking more and more likely by the week that Liverpool will win the Premier League, if Salah can help the Reds also triumph in the Champions League then it will only increase his chance of winning the Ballon D’or.
Real Madrid are also among the favourites for the competition. Could it be a straight shootout between Salah and Mbappe for both the Champions League and the Ballon D’or?
Kieran King
For me, Mohamed Salah has to be right up there for the Ballon d’Or debate. His numbers this season are unmatched. No-one in Europe’s top five leagues have as many goals and assists as him across all competitions (50) and I think he is in pole position right now.
And I believe that there is only one player that can beat him to that award – that is Kylian Mbappe. The 26-year-old made a slow start to life at Real Madrid but has ramped up the pace in recent months, scoring 18 goals in 20 matches. That has taken him to 27 in 38 so far this season.
It does feel as though, at this stage, if Real Madrid win the Champions League and Mbappe is integral in that competition, he is going to win the Ballon d’Or. However, if they don’t, Salah is going to be the favourite irrespective of whether the Reds go onto win Europe’s elite club competition.
Other candidates to win the Ballon d’Or at the moment is Barcelona’s Raphinha, who is having a fine season himself with 24 goals and 16 assists in 37 matches, and teammate Lamine Yamal. The latter has notched 11 goals and 18 assists for Barca and is one of the most talented players in world football.
Jack Flintham
We are still a long way off from discovering the winner of the Ballon d’Or and while Salah should stand a really good chance of winning the award at present, I don’t think it is sewn up. After Real Madrid’s tantrum last year, I believe there will be a concentrated effort to ensure whoever the winner is, will not cause another club to boycott.
If Los Blancos were to win the Champions League and La Liga, I don’t think Salah will stand a chance of winning the coveted award. The shame is that a lot of weight will be added to the winner of that competition if Liverpool aren’t victorious, I can see Vinicius Jr or one of his teammates mopping up.
Ultimately, the award is a popularity contest and considering how much Real Madrid care about the award, in comparison to Liverpool, that could harm Salah’s chances. That being said, on pure football merit, his achievements for the Reds have been spectacular and he would deserve the prize if the Merseyside club only won the Premier League. But, I fear after the Rodri controversy, the award will be heading to Spain in October.