It's True And It's Sad': Mane Claims African Players Wrongly Overlooked For Ballon D'or

Sadio Mane is one of the favourites for the Ballon d'Or this season. He's scored 23 goals for the Reds and has been our best forward in 2022, scoring important goals as the team chases the cup treble.

Mane was also instrumental in helping Senegal win their first-ever African Cup of Nations while leading them to World Cup qualification too.

The forward admitted, however, that winning the Ballon d'Or is tougher for an African than someone from Europe or South America. When it was put to him that African players are often unfairly overlooked for the award, Mane replied: "It's true. If you guys say it, what can I say myself? Which is sad.

"This cup, the Africa Cup of Nations is one of the biggest for myself, it is the biggest trophy I have won in my life.

"For an African player not to have won the Ballon d'Or since George Weah it is sad for sure. Winning the Champions League is special. I have a chance to play it again and we have a chance to win it as we have a strong team.

"We will do everything we can to win it and then we will see what happens, with the Ballon d'Or. I think myself and all the Liverpool players will have targets from the beginning of the season, to go for all the trophies for sure. So far we have won two, and missed one, which is behind us.

"For me it would be even more special to have another bonus which is the Ballon d'Or - and I would be the happiest player in the world."

George Weah is the only African player ever to win the Ballon d'Or, having done so back in 1995. Mane finished third in the voting in 2019 and could be on the podium again, alongside fellow African Mohamed Salah.

Source: Daily Mail