Liverpool speaks out after Salah misses out on the Ballon d'Or again

Liverpool reacted as Salah once again failed to secure the Ballon d'Or title.

The 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony concluded at the Chatelet Theatre in Paris, France, with a major surprise as Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele was named the best player in the world. Meanwhile, Liverpool’s star Mohamed Salah finished fourth, much to the disappointment of many fans.

The Egyptian forward had a spectacular 2024/25 season, contributing to 57 goals across all competitions. Although he was among the top contenders, he did not make it into the final top three. Notably, Salah did not attend the ceremony; instead, Liverpool’s delegation, including captain Virgil van Dijk, goalkeeper Alisson Becker, and coach Arne Slot, were present in Paris.

Right after the results were announced, Liverpool’s official social media posted a brief but proud message: “A season to savour from Salah” (A memorable season from Salah), accompanied by a series of images celebrating the 33-year-old player for his contributions to the club in the English port city.

The top 10 Ballon d'Or 2025 rankings were: Ousmane Dembele, Lamine Yamal, Vitinha, Mohamed Salah, Raphinha, Achraf Hakimi, Kylian Mbappe, Cole Palmer, Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Nuno Mendes. This was a rare occasion where Mbappe placed only seventh, while young talent Cole Palmer made his debut in the list of the world’s top 10 players.

In the women's category, talented midfielder Aitana Bonmati continued her dominance by winning the Ballon d'Or for the third consecutive time, cementing her position as the top female footballer. However, the main focus of the gala was on the men’s award, where Dembele triumphed over strong rivals Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) and teammate Vitinha to lift the Ballon d'Or for the first time in his career.

Dembele had a brilliant season with PSG, playing a key role in leading the Parisian club to the Champions League title. After receiving the award, the French star expressed his emotions: “I thank President Nasser Al-Khelaifi and coach Luis Enrique, who are like father figures to me. I also appreciate my former clubs Dortmund, Rennes, and Barcelona, where I had the chance to play alongside legends like Iniesta and Messi. The Ballon d'Or was never a career goal, but being honored today is truly special.”

Dembele’s victory is seen as a significant turning point, marking the start of a new era after many years dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. For Mohamed Salah, missing out on the Ballon d'Or is unfortunate, but he still reaffirms his status as a top star with his brilliant performances for Liverpool.