The Ballon d'Or is one of the most sought-after trophies not just in global football, but in all of sport.
Bestowed upon the best football player in the world across the previous season, the award has turned superstars into legends of the game.
This year, Liverpool star Mohamed Salah is right in the thick of contention, having enjoyed one of the best individual seasons in Premier League history en route to a second domestic title in his career with the Merseyside club.
Will it be enough to see Salah lift the glittering trophy, or will the voters turn in a different direction and leave the Egypt international to try again in the coming campaign? The Sporting News breaks down Salah's candidacy as the award ceremony draws nearer.
MORE: Why Raphinha should win the 2024/25 Ballon d'Or
Mohamed Salah stats 2024-25: Goals, assists, trophies
Salah was, unquestionably, the best player in the Premier League through the 2024/25 season, leading Liverpool to the domestic championship.
For his heroic efforts, Salah was chosen as PFA Player of the Season, no less than he deserved. The Egyptian equalled a league record held by both Alan Shearer and Andy Cole as he registered 47 goal contributions, joint-most in Premier League history for a single campaign.
Outside of league competition, however, Salah saw much less success. Liverpool reached the final of the EFL Cup, falling to Newcastle United, but they were bounced early in the FA Cup, as Salah never even got to appear.
In the Champions League, Liverpool left the most on the table, knocked out in the Round of 16 at the hands of eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain.
| Competition | Games (Starts) | Goals | Assists | Minutes |
| Premier League | 38 (38) | 29 | 18 | 3,380 |
| EFL Cup | 5 (3) | 2 | 1 | 312 |
| UEFA Champions League | 9 (9) | 3 | 4 | 809 |
Will Mohamed Salah win the 2025 Ballon d'Or?
It's likely that while Salah's exploits in the Premier League have him in contention near the top of the voting, he will fall short of winning the award.
Salah was unquestionably the best player in the best domestic league in the world last season, and that comes with plenty of clout, but he was not able to lift his side where it matters the most — in the Champions League.
Scoring just three goals in European play last season, all coming against inferior sides (Bologna, Girona, Lille), Salah came up empty in the most important games. Critically, he was invisible in both legs against PSG, as Liverpool were beaten on penalties after a 1-1 aggregate draw.
Had Salah blown the absolute doors off the Premier League, it might have been possible to overlook the Champions League whiffs, but Salah faded massively at the end of the campaign once Liverpool appeared to be running away with the title. The 33-year-old cakewalked through the last eight league matches of the season with just two goals and one assist, as the Reds had little left to play for at that stage.
Ultimately, with the likes of Raphinha, Ousmane Dembele, and Lamine Yamal pairing exceptional domestic seasons with starring performances on the Champions League stage, Salah will likely finish behind the top contenders.