Mohamed Salah has clear Ballon d'Or reality after Liverpool disappointment

Mohamed Salah has clear Ballon d'Or reality after Liverpool Champions League disappointment

ECHO writers debate Mohamed Salah's chances of winning the Ballon d'Or after Liverpool's defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League

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Mohamed Salah's chances of winning the Ballon d'Or have become a topic of debate after Liverpool exited the Champions League. The Reds lost on a penalty shootout to Paris Saint-Germain in their last-16 tie on Tuesday night.

Liverpool had gone into the game having finished top of the league phase standings in the competition. However, the Reds now have just the Carabao Cup final and their nine remaining Premier League fixtures left to play for this season, with a record-equalling 20th top flight English league title looking almost certain.

Salah has scored 32 goals with 22 assists in all competitions for Liverpool this season and has already broke several individual records both for the Reds and in the Premier League. The Egyptian has been tipped to be in contention to win the Ballon d'Or later this year, with other candidates apparently including Barcelona star Raphinha and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe also apparently in the running.

Here, ECHO writers debate whether or not Salah's chances of winning the Ballon d'Or have been harmed because of Liverpool's Champions League exit.

Mark Wakefield

There is no doubt in my mind that Mohamed Salah remains the best player on the planet this season, regardless of the defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. In terms of forward players, Salah always seemed the most likely to score in the second leg at Anfield, and if he had more luck on his side, he could have been the matchwinner.

Winning the Ballon d'Or is often associated with being part of a team that wins the biggest trophies that season. But should that always be the case?

Let's not forget, Liverpool have a 15-point lead at the top of the Premier League and are the overwhelming favourites to win the title. If a 20th league crown is secured for the Reds, Salah will have played a major role in making that happen.

In my opinion, being part of a team that wins the Champions League should not be the defining factor in winning the Ballon d'Or. It helps if that player does something to get their team over the line, of course, but it's not the be-all and end-all.

Richard Garnett

At the start of this week I would have argued that Mohamed Salah was the front-runner for this year's Ballon d'Or, but Liverpool's early exit from the Champions League will certainly have a detrimental effect on his chances. It's hard to figure out exactly what the criteria is to win this prestigious title, apart from having the surname Messi or Ronaldo, but one thing for certain is that there will now be less eyes on Salah across the continent than there will have been had The Reds progressed deep into the competition.

If the Egyptian truly wants to win the Ballon d'Or, you would imagine that a strong start to next season is essential to aid his cause now that Liverpool are only competing domestically. Hopefully that will mean a new Anfield contract as a consequence, which would be a win-win for both Salah and the club.

Kieran Horn

While the Ballon d'Or celebrates the brilliance of an individual, success on the biggest stage for their team is hugely considered. Based on that, barring unbelievable domestic returns, a player that helps his side win the Champions League often wins the prize.

Rodri's triumph last year is proof that is not always the case and with Salah arguably performing at a higher level, the Liverpool star is absolutely in the running. However, the likes of Raphinha, Harry Kane and Ousmane Dembele are all shining while also still having a chance to win the Champions League.

A Premier League and Champions League double would have made Salah the clear favourite but not securing the latter could prove decisive. Unless he stays at the same level shown in the last six months, Salah will go significantly down the pecking order and one of the aforementioned attackers will become the clear favourite.

Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe will also be considered as Real Madrid are expected to reach the latter stages in Europe.

Matthew Abbott

Without a major men's international tournament this summer, the Champions League will be even more important than usual in Ballon d'Or voting. Club success on the continent and international triumphs often determine who wins these individual accolades.

You have to go back two decades for a player who was named the best in the world without lifting a trophy with their country or at least reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League. Ronaldinho was that recipient in 2005 when Barcelona won La Liga but lost to Chelsea in Europe at the round of 16 stage while also exiting the Copa del Rey early to lower league opposition.

The parallels to Mohamed Salah and Liverpool this season are clear. It seems unlikely that history will repeat itself, but there is precedent for a player winning the Ballon d'Or in the relative absence of club success.

Stephen Killen

Champions League or not, it's hard to ignore Mohamed Salah as a bonafide contender for the Ballon d'Or. There aren't many players in the world who can change a game in an instant like the Egyptian but also, come up with match-winning solutions time after time.

Without Salah, Liverpool's title hopes would not be as concrete as they are now. His off day against Paris Saint-Germain laid bare the lack of clinical attacking threat that Arne Slot currently possesses.

With Ousmane Dembele playing a starring role in their Champions League win and PSG sitting pretty at the top of Ligue 1, he becomes a frontrunner now in Salah's European absence. Likewise with Raphinha, who Thierry Henry tipped as a leading contender after his double helped Barcelona progress.

If the Liverpool star needs any more motivation, those writing him off should spur him on to break those records before him at Anfield and in the Premier League to complete guiding the Reds to an unlikely top-flight success.

Keifer MacDonald

Mohamed Salah would only have to look at Rodri's Ballon d'Or-winning campaign last season to realise that Champions League success is not the be-all and end-all of the prestigious individual award.

The Manchester City and Spain international was, of course, named as the winner of the 2024 award ahead of Real Madrid duo Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham.

In the 2023-24 season, Rodri's success at the Etihad - a fourth consecutive Premier League - and a Euro 2024 triumph with Spain was enough to see him win the award.

So even after Liverpool were knocked out of the Champions League on Tuesday night, Salah should not fear that his chances of winning the golden ball are over.

The Egyptian is enjoying one of the best individual campaigns in Premier League history, with his 44 goal contributions largely responsible for Liverpool sitting 15 points clear of Arsenal.

Indeed, should the Egyptian continue to fire the goals that lead the Reds to just a second Premier League title in five years, it will be hard to overlook such a historic campaign by those dishing out the prestigious individual awards at the end of the calendar year.

Salah, of course, will be in with a shout.

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