November 12th 2024.
Mohamed Salah, the star forward for Liverpool, was not included in the shortlist for the prestigious Ballon d'Or award this year, despite being nominated for the past five years in a row. This came as a shock to many, including former Arsenal player Robert Pires, who believes that Salah is currently the best player in the Premier League. Pires believes that the omission of Salah from the shortlist is a clear indication that some people do not have a good understanding of football.
Salah, who scored 25 goals in 44 games last season, was a key player in helping Liverpool win the Carabao Cup and secure Champions League qualification. However, the award was ultimately given to Manchester City and Spain midfielder, Rodri, who had an exceptional year for both club and country. This decision caused controversy, especially with Real Madrid trio Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham, and Dani Carvajal finishing second, third, and fourth respectively. Vinicius Jr's second-place finish even led to Madrid's delegation boycotting the ceremony in Paris last month.
Pires believes that the journalists who decide the shortlist for the Ballon d'Or made a mistake by leaving Salah out, especially considering his consistent performance over the years. "Mohamed Salah is the best player in the Premier League," Pires stated in an interview with MBC MASR 2. He praised Salah's fantastic mentality and his exceptional skills, both in his national team and with Liverpool. Pires believes that Salah has been unfairly treated and that his absence from the shortlist is a loss for the award, not for Salah himself.
The former Arsenal winger also pointed out that many great players, such as Thierry Henry, Xavi, and Andres Iniesta, have never won the Ballon d'Or either. Pires believes that Salah's absence from the shortlist highlights the fact that some people do not have a good understanding of football. In a recent interview, Rodri even criticized Vinicius Jr for turning down his invitation to the Ballon d'Or ceremony, stating that he would not have done the same.
Despite the controversy surrounding the award, Rodri, who ultimately won the Ballon d'Or, believes that it is important to know how to both win and lose gracefully. He also mentioned that attending the ceremony was a breath of fresh air for him, especially since he had been injured and going through rehabilitation. In the end, he made the decision to attend the event to enjoy the evening and support his fellow players.
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