Mohamed Salah has emerged as a strong contender for the 2025 Ballon d’Or after making what fans are calling a brilliant strategic move just before the season concludes.
As the 2024/25 campaign nears its end, anticipation around the Ballon d’Or has intensified, with several elite players — including PSG’s Ousmane Dembele, Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, and Liverpool’s Salah — in the spotlight.
Yet supporters believe Salah has now edged ahead in the race thanks to a clever move aimed at improving his chances.
On Wednesday, Paris Saint-Germain are set to host Arsenal for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final. Ahead of this crucial fixture, Salah spoke to French media about PSG — the team that eliminated Liverpool from the competition — praising their performances and showing humility.
Speaking to L’Équipe, Salah said, “PSG played a great first leg. We were very lucky. Alisson had one of his best ever games for Liverpool. PSG were unlucky.” He added, “In the return match at Anfield, we were the ones unlucky, hitting the post multiple times. It was a 50/50 tie. No one clearly deserved to advance more than the other.”
He concluded by saying, “It was their moment. I shook their hands and told them: ‘Congratulations, go win it.’ They were the best team in Europe at that time.”
His decision to speak to the French press immediately sparked speculation among Liverpool fans, with many suggesting it was a deliberate attempt to gain favor with France Football — the French publication that organizes the Ballon d’Or and oversees the voting process.
One fan commented, “Mo talking to the French media is no coincidence,” while another noted, “He’s clearly doing some Ballon d’Or PR.” A third joked, “This is a 1400 Elo chess move.”