Liverpool’s Sadio Mane has been named as one of the five players most likely to win this year’s Ballon d’Or.
French publication L’Equipe have included the Liverpool winger in their rundown of Karim Benzema’s rivals for the end-of-year award.
The Real Madrid striker is the current favourite to win the individual honour. However, L’Equipe think Mane could have a thing or two to say about that.
That seems to stem largely from his importance to Senegal’s AFCON trophy win. Mane was his country’s key man and was named Player of the Tournament.
L’Equipe say that because of this, Mane can play the ‘winner’s card’, unlike his ‘Liverpool friend’ Mohamed Salah. It’s also claimed that the ‘hard-hitting winger’s’ qualification with Senegal for the World Cup could be a factor, as well as Liverpool’s quadruple hunt.
The other three players named as being potential winners are Kevin De Bruyne, Robert Lewandowski and Kylian Mbappe.
Mixed season for Sadio
Mane’s inclusion in this list is a sign above all else that football values team victories over individual performances. Even when deciding individual awards.
Liverpool’s number 10 has had a relatively decent season in terms of goals. His strike against Manchester City on Sunday was his 16th of the season – the same tally he reached last year with time still to spare.
Aside from that though, he has been below his usual standards for chunks of the campaign.
A mixture of added competition from Luis Diaz and confidence taken from Senegal’s AFCON victory seem to have helped him to kick on since February.
His performances have sometimes still left a little to be desired, though. Take his anonymous display in the second-leg of Liverpool’s game against Inter Milan. L’Equipe must have forgotten about that one, as they gave him a 4/10 that night!
Klopp says Mane can still get better
One man who thinks Mane can still improve is Jurgen Klopp. Writing in his programmes notes ahead of Liverpool’s game with Benfica tonight, The Reds boss said that the 30-year-old is still yet to reach his peak.
“We are so appreciative of him (Mane) and I know for sure the levels he reaches at the moment are not the peak – there is even more to come from this very special player,” Klopp wrote as transcribed by liverpoolfc.com.
We would be the happiest people in the world if Mane were to pull off an upset and win the Ballon d’Or. He deserves it for his continued excellence for Liverpool over a sustained period, a lot of which has often gone unnoticed.
Judging over the course of the season though – which the award will now be – Mane hasn’t even been Liverpool’s best player, let alone the best in the world.
The Senegalese should certainly make the shortlist, but it would be a surprise to see him rank inside the top five.
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