Mohamed Salah’s Ballon d’Or verdict issued as Liverpool’s placing confirmed

Mohamed Salah has been backed to win the Ballon d’Or by a former Egypt international, with the Liverpool forward among four Reds players on the 30-man shortlist

A former Premier League star has joined the chorus of voices backing Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah for the Ballon d’Or.

The Anfield ace is one of four Liverpool players to make it onto the 30-man shortlist for football’s most coveted individual accolade in 2025. Salah was instrumental in Liverpool’s Premier League triumph under new boss Arne Slot.

In addition to his club exploits, Salah also represented Egypt six times during the same period, scoring four goals and providing an assist as his nation secured their spot in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.

As a result, the striker has received significant backing from Egyptian football greats for the Ballon d’Or. The latest endorsement comes from Mido, who had stints with several English clubs including Tottenham Hotspur and Middlesbrough.

Taking to social media, Mido, 42, said: “I honestly believe that Salah should be the winner by the end of the night. He deserves to be crowned after all what he has done to the football world.

“He’s been a great example to all youngsters all over the world he gave them hope and he’s been the pride of his country Egypt. Be fair to him just for one time and make it happen this year! ! Give him what he deserves the Ballon d’Or,” reports the Mirror.

Salah previously garnered comparable support from Egypt’s national team boss Hossam Hassan, who stated: “Considering the hardships he encountered along his journey, he deserves it.. Based on the size of the challenges you overcome, he deserves it.

“Measuring years of brilliance, excellence and creativity in the strongest league in the world, he deserves it.

“It is difficult to get to the top, but all the difficulty lies in continuing on the top, and he has reached the top and continued on it for many years thanks to God first, then his talent, hard work and determination until he became a role model for all success seekers.

“Is it time for football to be fair and fair with them to choose the winner?

“Our prayers and the prayers of all Egyptians and all Salah’s fans around the world, that Salah should be the winner of the Ballon d’Or to be the best crowning of the career of a great player that may not be repeated again in our history of Egyptian, Arab and African football, but also international.”

Yet transforming this dream into concrete success won’t prove simple. The Liverpool maestro, who’s never managed to crack the top three, must battle fierce rivalry from PSG’s treble hero Ousmane Dembele and Barcelona’s La Liga champions Raphinha and Lamine Yamal.

Liverpool’s summer recruit Florian Wirtz has officially clinched the 29th spot, while skipper Virgil van Dijk is a notch higher at 28th and Alexis Mac Allister has bagged the 22nd position.

Liverpool’s shot-stopper Alisson Becker is vying for the Yashin Trophy for the best goalkeeper of 2025, while Slot is in contention for the Johan Cruyff Trophy for the top coach of the year.