Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah should have been included in the FIFA World XI announced in January.
That’s according to Thomas Muller.
The Bayern Munich legend made the comments to MBC Egypt (as translated by Filgol) this week after The Reds forward was overlooked last month.
“Mohamed Salah is in great form at the moment and is appreciated by everyone,” said Muller.
“It’s disappointing that he was not chosen in the World XI, and this may be due to the Euros being played last summer.”
It’s high praise coming from a player with the pedigree of Muller.
The 110-cap German international has won near enough everything there is to win in football. He is also someone who, despite his continued brilliance, is well accustomed to missing out on personal accolades.
“It’s a combination of individual excellence and team success. Often 20 players can be selected and only four or five players deserve it,” Muller continued.
”But Salah deserved to be in the perfect squad.”
Mo missed out behind Erling Haaland, Robert Lewandowski, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the eleven.
Even more amazingly, Liverpool’s number 11 didn’t even make the 23-man shortlist for the team. Eight forwards were included having gained more votes from their fellow professional footballers than the Egyptian King.
Salah a shoe-in
It will have hurt Salah to have been overlooked at FIFA’s awards show, as well as at the Ballon d’Or awards last year where he finished seventh.
But his incredible form this season should mean that he is in contention for the end of season gongs in England this campaign.
The 29-year-old is now on 17 Premier League goals after his well-taken strike against Norwich City on Saturday. That was his 150th for Liverpool. It puts him comfortably ahead of Diogo Jota who is second with 12.
In terms of goal creation, only Trent Alexander-Arnold (10) has more than his nine assists.
Liverpool are looking like pushing Manchester City all the way in the title race.
If Salah is able to keep turning in the kind of performances that we’ve seen from him so far, it shouldn’t matter whether Liverpool win the big prize or not.
The Egyptian has been the league’s standout player in 2021/22 and should be rewarded as such regardless of where The Reds finish.
As for FIFA and Ballon d’Or recognition, that will largely be formed based on Liverpool’s Champions League exploits.
As of now, Salah has eight goals in the competition this season. Only Sebastien Haller and Lewandowski have scored more.
Liverpool look well placed to go the distance in Europe. Should they manage a miraculous seventh title in Saint Petersburg on May 28th, there is surely no way that Salah would be overlooked again.
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