Ballon d’Or: Why Salah will not win award – Rio Ferdinand

Manchester United legend, Rio Ferdinand, has admitted that Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah might not win the Ballon d’Or award this year.

Ferdinand, however, claims the Egyptian is currently the standout candidate to win the prize.

Salah has 30 goals in 39 appearances for the Reds this season.

The 32-year-old’s contributions has seen Liverpool sit at the top of the Premier League table and in the last 16 of the Champions League.

“Right now at this moment in time, I don’t think there’s anyone else on the podium with him,” Ferdinand said on TNT Sports.

Ferdinand however feels Salah may miss out on the Ballon d’Or if Arne Slot’s men do not win – or at least go deep in – the Champions League.

He added: “I think with the way the Champions League works, as you get through the knockout stages and someone starts coming to the fore, they (Ballon d’Or contenders) end up there.

“It comes down to moments in big games, really. You can throw Salah in there, you can throw [Ousmane] Dembele in there if PSG go far. [Kylian] Mbappe will be there, [as will] Vinicius [Junior] and [Jude] Bellingham.

“Whoever keeps their status and turns up in the semi-finals and final will win it. If they (Liverpool) win the Champions League, I’m sure he’ll play a big part.”

Ballon d’Or: Why Salah will not win award – Rio Ferdinand