The Ballon d’Or is the most prestigious award a footballer can receive. This award ceremony happens annually and is a source of excitement worldwide as fans await the announcement of their favourite. Currently, for the coming Ballon d’Or, only one name is being roared by fans worldwide.
It’s the Egyptian footballer Mohammad Salah, who plays for Liverpool. In this season, the Egyptian forward has performed brilliantly, breaking records in the Premier League. Now the question remains: has Salah already become a top contender for the Ballon d’Or this year?
Salah’s Superb Performance So Far
Salah’s performance this season has been nothing but fascinating. He has been constantly scoring and assisting. If there is a goal, there is Salah’s involvement. Furthermore, Salah’s assistance and scoring have made him one of Europe’s best players. Again, in the Premier League, he is the top scorer, even ahead of Erling Haaland, who usually dominates the goal-scoring sheets.
On the contrary, Mohammed Salah has shown fantastic leadership qualities on the pitch. Again, he inspires his teammates and always remains calm under pressure. One of the best examples is his calm when he takes a penalty like it’s nothing. Salah is a complete player, as he can create goal-scoring opportunities and even score goals for himself. If you have crypto, you can use it for cryptobets.
Elements for Ballon d’Or Considerations
Individual excellence is not the most significant factor in winning the Ballon d’Or. Other vital elements also determine the winner of this award. So, it’s not solely connected to individual performance.
- Team Success: Winning key trophies like UCL or Premier League will be crucial for Salah’s journey to winning the Ballon d’Or. Therefore, team success matters a lot for Ballon d’Or considerations. Thus, this year, Liverpool needs to win a major trophy for Salah to win the award.
- Performance in Big Games: Performances in big matches always remain a significant factor for the Ballon d’Or voters. A player’s performance is crucial, especially in high-stakes matches like the Champions League or other domestic cup finals. Salah has a history of delivering magnificent performances in such vital matches. Yet, this season, his performance in essential matches will be closely monitored, and his performance will decide his future for the Ballon d’Or.
- Consistency: Consistency throughout the season is vital for winning the Ballon d’Or award. Salah must perform consistently throughout the season to win this year’s award. However, till now, in both the Premier League and Champions League, Salah has been scoring and delivering a fantastic performance on the pitch. So, he needs to keep up this performance till the season ends.
- Legacy: It is safe to say that Salah is already a Liverpool legend. Also, for the Ballon d’Or award, they consider the overall performance and standing of the player worldwide. Salah is already a prominent forward in the football world. Also, he is a world-class forward. Lastly, his current reputation will contribute to his standing in the Ballon d’Or.
Challenges on Salah’s Journey
Even if factors continue to favor Salah, he faces challenges in his journey to win the award.
The Pressure of Expectations: Salah carries the hope of Egypt and Liverpool fans worldwide. The last player close to the Ballon d’Or award was Virgil Van Dijk, who was second. So, Mohammed Salah has high expectations as he has been performing well, breaking the goal-scoring records of Thierry Henry and Frank Lampard. So, this expectation can become a pressure and obstacle for him.
Team Dynamic: For Salah to win the Balloon d’Or, Liverpool’s performance is intertwined. So, the team dynamic needs to be consistent throughout the season. However, somehow, if the team dynamic deteriorates, it can become a challenge for Salah to win the award.
Uncertainty: Football is a physical game, and in nature, injuries are common. Also, the uncertainty of injuries remains high in football, as it can happen anytime. So, there is a risk of injury for Salah in the coming match, and it’s unpredictable, no matter how carefully Salah plays.
The Decision of Jury: The Ballon d’Or award is decided by experts and a jury of sports journalists. Their biases and preferences directly influence the winner. So, the apparent winner can lose the prize due to their preferences and biases.
Prejudice: African players always face racism in European awards. Again, Salah belongs to Africa, and there is always a chance for Salah to face racism from the journalists as well. Most importantly, despite Salah’s superb performance in Europe, Salah has been devoid of many awards because of the African narrative.
Competition and Rivals
Salah is not the only top contender for the Ballon d’Or this year. Raphina from Barcelona has been extraordinary this season with his constant scoring prowess. Again, there is competition from Bellingham from Real Madrid, a top contender this season. So, Salah needs to perform better than them and defeat them. Lastly, Liverpool has to win major trophies as well.
Therefore, Salah needs to be aware of his rivals and competition. Raphinha is Salah’s biggest challenge, and being from Africa, Salah is often faced with prejudice. Thus, the hope remains of winning the Premier League or the Champions League.
Future of Salah
If Salah wins the Ballon d’Or award, he will forever be a legend in the football world, alongside Christiano Ronaldo and Messi. He will also be a Liverpool Legend, with a place beside Steven Gerrard, Suarez, and others.
Conclusion
Has Salah already become a top contender for the Ballon d’Or this year?   Certainly, Salah has become a top contender for the Ballon d’Or this year. Most importantly, Salah has to be consistent in his performance and keep delivering his top-notch performance in big matches as well.
On the other hand, Salah needs to watch out for his rival, who is Raphinhna. He is also a top contender for the Ballon d’Or this year and has an impressive track record. Salah’s future would seem bright if he did not face any biases from journalists.
