Mo Salah says his Ballon d’Or dream truly started when he joined Liverpool, and now, after a record-breaking season, he believes this could finally be his time.
Speaking in an interview shared by the Ballon d’Or’s official X account, Salah opened up about his mindset and motivation:
“It wasn’t in my head when I was young. When you play football in the streets of Egypt, you don’t imagine winning the Ballon d’Or. The first time it really clicked was when my agent spoke to me about it. I started to believe it more. Honestly, it started at Liverpool, not in Rome.
“If I win, it would be great. If not, I still think my career is very good. But I have this image in my head — I just want to win it for my people. That’s always stuck with me.”
Salah was on fire again in 2024/25, racking up 29 goals and 18 assists in the Premier League as Liverpool won the title under new boss Arne Slot.
Slot has backed the Egyptian King to be right in the mix for the award and gave his thoughts in full:
“A lot, because it’s completely true. He’s had very, very, very good seasons at Liverpool, but this one probably stands out in terms of numbers. And if you add to that, we also won the league, that would probably give him a fair chance. But fortunately for all the football fans around the world, he’s not the only player that has had a great season.
“I think we were able to watch great football players this season again. But if there’s ever a chance for him, it would be this season. If not, then he’s going to try to push even harder next season. That’s what I already know with him.”
Salah also told Sky Sports earlier this season that this was the best campaign of his career:
“I never had a season like this, and winning big trophies too. It’s been a crazy year, a crazy season with a trophy. It’s given me a good chance.”
Salah will be up against names like Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Dembele, and Vitinha for the Ballon d’Or, but with the numbers, the trophies, and the consistency he’s shown, there’s a strong case that this year could finally be his.
