For the Sixth Time, the "Ballon d'Or" Continues to Elude Mohamed Salah

The prestigious Ballon d'Or award continues to elude Egyptian international star and Liverpool forward, Mohamed Salah. For the sixth time in his career, Salah failed to win the prestigious award, presented annually by the famous French magazine "France Football" to the world's best player.

This year, the award went to French star Ousmane Dembélé of Paris Saint-Germain, marking the first time he has won the trophy. The Spanish player Lamine Yamal and the Portuguese Vitinha, from Barcelona and PSG, respectively, came in second and third. Salah secured the fourth spot, his highest-ever ranking for the award, a testament to his impressive performance last season.

A Stellar Season on All Fronts

The "Egyptian Pharaoh" led his team Liverpool to win the Premier League title for the 20th time in the club's history, tying the record with arch-rivals Manchester United for the most wins in the prestigious competition. Salah also dominated the individual awards in the Premier League, thanks to his stunning performance under Dutch coach Arne Slot.

• Top Scorer for the fourth time in his career, scoring 29 goals, which tied the record with retired French legend Thierry Henry.

• Top Playmaker in the competition, with 18 assists.

• Overall, Salah contributed to 57 goals in 52 matches with Liverpool across all competitions during the 2024/2025 season.

The "Egyptian King," as Liverpool fans call him, also won other important awards, including:

• Player of the Season from the Premier League.

• Player of the Year from the Football Writers' Association.

• Player of the Year from the Professional Footballers' Association for the third time in his career, making him the most decorated player in the history of that award.

On the international level, Salah led the Egyptian national team to qualify for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations. The "Pharaohs" are also on the verge of qualifying for the next 2026 World Cup, needing only two points from their last two qualifying matches to secure a spot.

Salah and the Ballon d'Or History

Salah first appeared on the list of nominees for the Ballon d'Or in 2018, finishing sixth. In the following years, he achieved fifth place in 2019, seventh in 2021, and fifth again in 2022, before dropping to eleventh in 2023. He was completely absent from the list in 2024.

Salah's chance to win the award next year might be difficult, especially with the 2026 World Cup finals, which always play a significant role in determining the winner's identity. The winner is chosen based on a vote by specialized journalists from the top 100 countries in the FIFA rankings, who rely on three main criteria: individual performance, team performance and achievements, and sportsmanship (fair play).