Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand is the latest to question whether Mohamed Salah could end up winning the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
The Reds bowed out of the UEFA Champions League in a disappointing penalty shootout loss, with Salah struggling to make an impact over the two legs. Thierry Henry was the first to question the Egyptian’s standing in the Ballon d’Or race after the elimination, and Ferdinand has now followed suit, echoing the Frenchman’s sentiments.
Speaking on his YouTube show, Rio Reacts, Ferdinand praised PSG full-back Nuno Mendes for his defensive masterclass against Salah saying, “Nuno Mendes has got to be in the conversation for best fullback in the game right now. Nuno Mendes really shut down Mo Salah, potential Ballon d’Or winner at the time, before the first leg.”
Salah has been a standout performer all season, especially in the Premier League, shattering records one after the other while leading both the goals and assists charts. However, his performances against PSG were underwhelming, the forward seemed to go missing as he managed just one shot on target across both legs.
“Everyone was talking about Salah being the most likely Ballon d’Or winner; I was as well. That’s been thrown right up in the air right now, and Nuno Mendes has been a big contributor to that in terms of locking him down over two legs. Salah didn’t get a sniff at goal over both games,” Ferdinand added.
Despite their European disappointment, Liverpool remain favorites to win a domestic double, with Salah still a strong contender for football’s most sought after individual prize. The Reds now shift their focus to the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle at Wembley on Sunday, kicking off at 6:30 PM Cairo time.