Thierry Henry makes claim about Mo Salah winning the Ballon d’Or live on air last night

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Thierry Henry has admitted that it will be ‘difficult’ for Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah to win the Ballon d’Or next year.

Salah was recently voted in 11th place for the 2023 edition of the award, which saw Lionel Messi come out on top for an eighth time.

But with the season now well underway, talk has already turned to who may win out in 2024. With a list of the current favourites being shown on CBS Sports Golazo last night, Henry weighed in on why he doesn’t think Liverpool’s Egyptian King will be crowned.

“In a year of a big [footballing] event, a big tournament, it’s difficult for Mo Salah for example, I saw him on the list,” explained the former Arsenal striker.

“Although you’re going to have the Africa Cup of Nations, people watch the Euros. And on the back of the Euros it’s different, on the back of the World Cup it’s different.”

Salah out of Ballon d’Or running

It’s no bad thing really, but we can categorically say that Salah will not win the Ballon d’Or next year.

He may be somewhere in the running, because he always is. Since his £34m move to Anfield, the 31-year-old has always finished inside the top 11. Mo is on course for another brilliant year with Liverpool and that will likely be acknowledged.

But Henry’s point is a good one. Just as it was this year, greater stock is now being put in international achievements.

Sadio Mane’s second place finish in 2022 is proof that AFCON, which takes place early next year, is being taken into account more. That’s good.

But with so many European names on the favourites list, it would take a mammoth effort from Mo – and Egypt – to get the Liverpool man to the top of the list.

Another reason Salah won’t be at the top of the pile next year is because Liverpool aren’t in the Champions League.

If any one of Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe or Harry Kane win the Champions League and the Euros, then you can forget about it.

In our opinion, these individual awards are nothing more than a popularity contest and rarely truly reflect the best player of the day. Still, it would be nice to see Salah get the recognition he deserves. Sadly though, Henry will surely be right.