4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Liverpool star snubs Mo Salah when picking Ballon d'Or winner - 'In all honesty'
Mohamed Salah is yet to finish in the top three of the Ballon d'Or and his Liverpool team-mate Ibrahima Konate has overlooked him for this year's award - instead hailing one of PSG's leading lights
Ibrahima Konate insists Ousmane Dembele is the "most deserving winner" of the Ballon d'Or - which would mean his Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah misses out yet again.
The Reds star has just enjoyed one of his best seasons in front of goal, firing Liverpool to another Premier League title. His individual exploits have continued to be recognised in England, where he was again named the FWA Player of the Year.
However on the world stage he's often been overlooked despite being one of Europe's most feared forwards for nearly a decade. Currently his best finish is fifth - which he's claimed twice - and those close to him have previously hit out and his lack of appreciation.
And Konate believes he will again get snubbed and has claimed his compatriot Dembele should land the award in light of PSG landing Champions League glory. After a slow few months early in the season the Parisians and their French forward clicked into gear.
History suggests that the team who win the European Cup often have one of their leading players scoop the Golden Ball. Dembele has been among their top performers and is being tipped to claim the prestigious award.
Konate said: 'We talk about Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé… But no one talks about Ousmane Dembélé. He has delivered an exceptional season. I have honestly no other words to describe it. Nobody expected it. I'm the happiest man for him. In all honesty, the most deserving Ballon d'Or winner is Ousmane Dembélé.'
The 28-year-old, formerly of Barcelona, scored 33 times in all competitions and came up with crucial strikes to help PSG see off Liverpool and Arsenal en route to the final, where they hammered Inter Milan 5-0 at the Allianz Arena.
Jamie Carragher has been among those to talk up Salah's chances of winning the Ballon d'Or - previously declaring him a frontrunner when he was in a purple patch earlier this season.
He said: 'I think it's either the Champions League or the major tournament – normally the player who excels in that. You look at Vinicius Jr, [Kylian] Mbappe right now, Real Madrid are looking really good going for the Champions League, and Liverpool will be in that conversation. But right now, he's certainly the frontrunner.'
Dembele has been installed as the favourite to land the Ballon d'Or following PSG's European triumph. Lamine Yamal is second favourite with Salah largely the third favourite among the bookmakers.
