Football fans everywhere have called for Mohamed Salah to win the Ballon d’Or after his Champions League masterclass on Tuesday night.
The Egyptian put in yet another dazzling display to help Liverpool sink his former side Roma in the first leg of their semi-final – chipping in with two goals and two assists in a 5-2 win for Jurgen Klopp’s men.
Salah’s brace took his total to the season to 43 in all competitions, meaning he is now just four goals of Ian Rush’s scoring record of 47 in a single season.
His 31 goals in the Premier League also mean he needs only one more to break the scoring record in a 38-game season.
And Arsenal legend Ian Wright believes if the 25-year-old superstar can guide the Reds to Champions League glory, he is in with a real shot of winning world football’s most prestigious individual prize.
“Obviously depending on what Liverpool do in the Champions League, if they do go on and win it, then you have to say when you look at Cristiano Ronaldo, he’s saved much of his best work for the Champions League,” Wright added.
“Ronaldo won the Ballon d’Or a couple of times, and not just for those reasons but if Mo Salah keeps on doing what he’s doing, he’s not only in the conversation, he’s got a very good chance of winning it,” the pundit said.
Should Salah indeed win the acclaimed award – currently held by Cristiano Ronaldo – he would become only the second African player of all time to do so after Liberian George Weah, who scooped the prize back in 1995.
Sold by Chelsea in 2016 for €15 million. Ballon d’Or winner in 2018? Can he do it? These lot think he’s in with a real shot …
It’s disrespectful to suggest Mo Salah should be given the Ballon D’or. They should rename it the Ballon M’or first and then give it to him.
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) April 24, 2018
https://twitter.com/Rouvafe/status/988869888512061440
Mo Salah going to challenge for Ballon d’Or at the rate he’s banging em in 🔥
— Dean Jones (@DeanJonesSoccer) April 24, 2018
Mo Salah is a serious contender for the Ballon d'Or…
He is.
10 goals in the Champions League. 43 in total this season.Just shows how great CRonaldo is.
15 goals this season in the Champions League. And over 40 goals…..EVERY season since 2011— Jan Aage Fjørtoft 🇳🇴 (@JanAageFjortoft) April 24, 2018
Goals scored this season in all competitions:
⚽ Mohamed Salah: 43
⚽ Cristiano Ronaldo: 42
⚽ Lionel Messi: 40Ballon d'Or winner? 🏆 pic.twitter.com/26EOr7YbVR
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) April 25, 2018
Everyone thought Antoine Griezmann or Neymar would end the Messi-Ronaldo Ballon d'Or era, but now a magical Egyptian called Mohamed Salah has emerged as the big contender.
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) April 24, 2018
Mo Salah kicking Neymar out of Ballon D'or Top three #LIVROM pic.twitter.com/ejhDWIWO1K
— Onyema Donald (@Onyema_Donald) April 24, 2018
Pharaoh is the true King. Give Mo Salah a ballon d Or now!! pic.twitter.com/L8tW5ubtaX
— Trent Alexander Arnold (@trentaarnold_) April 25, 2018
