PSG boss Luis Enrique says who should get the Ballon d’Or with Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah in the running

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Liverpool were beaten by the eventual Champions League winners this year, as PSG claimed their first ever title on Saturday.

The Reds ran Luis Enrique’s side close in the last-16, losing out on penalties after a 1-1 aggregate score.

That Liverpool were able to go toe-to-toe with such an accomplished team shows how far along they already are in their journey under Arne Slot.

As they aim to go several steps better next year, PSG are certainly a blueprint that the Liverpool head coach should look to follow.

In the meantime, after the 2024/25 European club season came to a complete close on Saturday night in Munich, players have done all they can in the race for the 2025 Ballon d’Or.

After a sensational season with Liverpool, Mohamed Salah can certainly count himself in the running. But speaking after his team’s 5-0 thrashing of Inter on Saturday, Enrique claimed one of his players should beat Salah to the award.

Luis Enrique backs Ousmane Dembele for Ballon d’Or

Had Liverpool navigated past PSG and into the latter stages of the Champions League, then Salah would certainly have a stronger shout to be named as the best player in the world.

It should also be noted that the Club World Cup could yet play a part in the voting, with Liverpool and Salah not entered into the tournament.

Should PSG win in the USA and be crowned champions of the world, it will certainly enhance their squad’s claims to win the Ballon d’Or.

But according to Enrique, winger Ousmane Dembele has already done enough to scoop the most prestigious individual award in football.

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“Everyone’s talking about the Ballon d’Or, but I would give it to Ousmane Dembele,” the PSG manager said in his post-match press conference.

“The way he defended tonight, he was a leader, he was humble, he got back down and defended. And I think without a shadow of a doubt he deserves it. Not only for the goals he scored, but the pressing that we saw.

“We’ve seen such a season from him and he was exceptional in this final.”

Will Dembele win the Ballon d’Or?

It is hard to ignore the fact that PSG have been the best team in Europe this season. And that’s not only in the Champions League either, the Paris based side also won a domestic double as well.

Given all of that, it would be foolish to ignore that a PSG player could easily win. Once you realise that the award is handed out by France Football, it makes it even more likely.

The one thing in Salah’s, and the other competitors, favour is that they did not really have one outstanding player.

Dembele led the way for goal contributions, but despite Enrique’s assertions, he was outshone by his teammates both in Saturday’s final and in the rounds leading up to it.

As a result, Dembele would feel a little like a winner by default, rather than the actual best player in the world this season. And for that reason, we still think Salah may have a chance.