Egyptian maestro has shown eerie consistency since arriving at Anfield in 2017 but is yet to finish above fifth in the Ballon d’Or rankings
Mohamed Salah is no stranger to big moments but the Liverpool forward says there’s one personal goal he still hopes to tick off his list: winning the Ballon d’Or.
The Egyptian king had one of the best seasons of his career in 2024-25 under Arne Slot, scoring 34 goals and assisting 23 across 52 matches for Liverpool.
His form helped the Reds win their second Premier League title in five years and tied the league record for most combined goals and assists in a single season (47). That record-level form has made him a contender for this year’s Ballon d’Or, alongside names like Ousmane Dembele, Raphinha, and Lamine Yamal.
The 33-year-old admits the dream of lifting football’s most prestigious individual prize has been in his mind since his move to Anfield in 2017, describing it as an image “stuck” in his head.
“If I win it, it would be great,” Salah told France Football. “If I don’t win it, I think my career will also be very good, but that image is in my head, always.
“I just want to win it for my people. That’s the thing that’s stuck in my head.”
No Liverpool player has won the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001. Salah hopes to change that, but also make history as only the second African to do so after George Weah.
His numbers speak for themselves. At the end of last season Salah became only the fifth player to win the Premier League’s Player of the Season award more than once, joining legends like Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nemanja Vidic and Kevin De Bruyne. He also collected his fourth Golden Boot this year, matching Henry’s all-time record in the competition.
But while he’s won all that and been consistent since arriving at Liverpool, the Ballon d’Or has remained just out of reach. His highest finish so far was fifth in 2019, even behind team-mates Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk.
But Salah believes he still has a chance.
“It wasn’t in my head when I was that young, because when you play in Egypt on the street, you don’t see yourself winning the Ballon d’Or,” said the forward.
“The first time it triggered was when [my agent Ramy Abbas] spoke to me about it. I think I started to believe it more in Liverpool, not in Rome.
“Several winners in recent years have been in their thirties. So, who knows?”
