Mohamed Salah has endured one of his most difficult matches in Liverpool colors during their Carabao Cup final defeat to Newcastle United.
Despite an outstanding individual season, the Egyptian forward and his team have failed to step up in crucial moments, which has effectively put a dent in his chances of securing football’s most prestigious individual award.
Liverpool’s Champions League campaign ended in disappointment after a Round of 16 exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain. The Reds, who had topped the league phase standings of the competition, were eliminated on penalties after a 1-1 aggregate score, with Salah unable to make any impact whatsoever over both legs.
Less than a week later, Liverpool missed out on another piece of silverware, falling to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley. The 2-1 defeat saw Salah struggle to leave his mark on the game, further complicating his Ballon d’Or bid.
Over the course of his career, Salah has appeared in a number of finals and it hasn’t been pretty. Going back to 2017 when he appeared in the African Cup of Nations final with the Egyptian national team, he’s played in 11 finals and somehow managed to score just two goals. They were both from the penalty spot too, meaning he’s never scored from open play in a final.
The Egyptian registered just 23 touches on the ball throughout the game and went missing for large periods. He completed just 13 passes, one cross and didn’t have a single shot on goal over the course of the 90 minutes. Salah also lost the ball on six occasions and only completed one dribble against Eddie Howe’s side. Considering his performance in front of goal this season, it was nowhere near his standards.
Regardless, on an individual level Salah is still undoubtedly enjoying what may be his best-ever season. The 32-year-old has broken multiple records this season, and has been directly involved in 54 goals across 42 appearances in all competitions. In the Premier League, he leads both the goal-scoring (27 goals) and assist charts (17 assists), driving Liverpool toward what could be their 20th league title.
However, with two trophies slipping away in quick succession, Salah’s Ballon d’Or hopes now appear uncertain. The competition is heating up, with Barcelona and Brazil forward, Raphinha, emerging as a serious contender.
Liverpool’s domestic and European aspirations may have taken a hit, but Salah’s individual numbers remain an undeniable feat. Whether it will be enough to keep him in the Ballon d’Or conversation, however, is now up for debate.