Micah Richards and Daniel Sturridge were quick to correct Jamie Carragher after the Liverpool legend’s slip-up in the Sky Sports studio following Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Manchester City.
The Reds made a significant stride toward securing their second Premier League title with a commanding performance at the Etihad, extending their lead over Arsenal to 11 points with 11 matches remaining.
Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai found the net in an outstanding first half, with Salah both scoring and assisting in the same game for the 11th time this season.
As a result, the studio discussion soon shifted to Salah’s status in world football and whether he was in contention for prestigious individual honors like the Ballon d’Or.
Sturridge, a former Liverpool forward, asserted that Salah aspires to be “the best in the world,” but Carragher believed there was a major hurdle standing in his way.
“I think the issue is that he’s with Egypt, and he’s probably not playing in what’s considered a major tournament or one he has a strong chance of winning. It usually comes down to the Champions League or a major international competition.
“Typically, the standout player in those tournaments—like Vinícius Jr. and (Kylian) Mbappé at the moment, with Real Madrid looking strong in the Champions League—ends up in the conversation.
“Liverpool will be in that mix, but as it stands, Real Madrid are certainly the frontrunners.”
However, Carragher faced criticism on social media for not recognizing the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as a major tournament.
While Salah has never won AFCON, he has twice finished as a runner-up, in 2017 and 2021. Additionally, Egypt is the tournament’s most successful team, boasting seven titles, with a chance to claim an eighth at the end of 2025.
Sturridge and Richards were quick to challenge Carragher’s remarks, with Richards emphasizing: “Just to clarify, AFCON is a major tournament. A lot of people at home might think otherwise, but AFCON is a big deal, just so you know.”
Carragher then asked whether Egypt had a realistic chance of winning the World Cup next year, to which Richards responded, “No, but AFCON is still a major tournament. You remember when Salah and Mané were competing for it?”
Carragher reacted with, “Oh God,” before Sturridge closed the debate, insisting: “It’s a fact. It’s a fact. If winning the Euros or Copa América is considered significant, then AFCON should be regarded the same way.”
With 25 goals already this season and Liverpool in contention for a potential treble—Premier League, Champions League, and Carabao Cup—Salah is undoubtedly among the leading candidates for the Ballon d’Or.
As Carragher pointed out, recent winners have often excelled in the Champions League or major international tournaments. Last year’s recipient, Rodri, shone for Spain at the Euros, Lionel Messi led Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022 before winning the award in 2023, and Karim Benzema’s Champions League heroics earned him the accolade in 2022.
AFCON will return at the end of the year, with Morocco set to host the tournament for the second time. Egypt will be among the favorites, led by Salah and his Manchester City counterpart Omar Marmoush, who joined the Premier League champions in January after an impressive spell with Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.
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