Journalist Gives Mohamed Salah Ballon d’Or Verdict Ahead of Ceremony | OneFootball

Mohamed Salah’s Ballon d’Or Case Reflects a Flawed System

Liverpool’s remarkable season under Arne Slot gave supporters moments to cherish, from the sheer consistency of their performances in the league to the record-breaking campaign of Mohamed Salah. Yet, as David Lynch recently explained when speaking to Dave Davis for Anfield Index, the Egyptian’s contribution may not be fully recognised in the biggest individual award of them all.

Why Salah Deserves More Recognition

Salah’s numbers are staggering. Lynch put it plainly: “He was the top scorer and top assister in the hardest league in the world and that element is not under question.” To do so in the Premier League, a competition where margins are razor thin and rivals are relentless, speaks volumes about his impact. Liverpool lifted the title through collective brilliance, but it was Salah who consistently dragged them over the line.

What makes his case unique is the balance between individual statistics and team importance. As Lynch highlighted, Liverpool’s exertions in competing on multiple fronts may have taken their toll: “Whereas for Liverpool, they have to give absolutely everything to win the Premier League and I think that’s what cost them against PSG.”

The Champions League What-If

It is no exaggeration to say Liverpool were a penalty shootout away from rewriting the season’s narrative in Europe. Their Round of 16 exit to PSG remains one of those sliding-door moments. Lynch reflected: “If they win that penalty shootout against PSG, then I think they go on to win the Champions League and Salah wins the Ballon d’or.”

The margins could not have been finer. Had Liverpool advanced, their blend of resilience and attacking power would have made them favourites. For Salah, lifting Europe’s biggest prize alongside his domestic achievements would have all but guaranteed his coronation as the world’s best.

Photo: IMAGO

Ballon d’Or Voting Remains Problematic

The frustration, as Lynch rightly underlined, lies in the way voting patterns prioritise trophies over sustained excellence. “He won’t win it because it’s always based on who wins the most team trophies for some reason.” This raises uncomfortable questions about whether the Ballon d’Or genuinely measures individual brilliance or simply rewards those fortunate enough to play in dominant sides.

Lynch even noted, “Maybe Ousmane Dembele will win it and what a player he is, but you don’t even have to question whether PSG will win Ligue 1.” That comparison is instructive. Ligue 1’s relative predictability should not hold the same weight as thriving in a league where every fixture is contested fiercely.

Salah’s Legacy and Football’s Blind Spot

Salah may ultimately finish his career without a Ballon d’Or. Lynch’s words cut to the heart of the issue: “He’ll probably finish his career without a Ballon d’Or despite being the best player in the world for a number of seasons throughout his career.” This is not merely about one season, but rather the chronic undervaluing of consistent elite performance.

The Premier League title, the goals, the assists, and the leadership underline his influence. Yet when history is written, awards might not tell the full story. That, more than anything, reflects the imperfections of football’s biggest individual honour.

Credit must go to David Lynch for voicing what many Liverpool fans feel, and to Dave Davis and Anfield Index for providing the platform to express it.