Mohamed Salah has carried the dreams of a nation, the hopes of a continent, and the pride of a club on his shoulders for many years. He has fought his way from the dusty pitches of Egypt to the grandest stages of football, and along the way, he has become a symbol of perseverance, brilliance, and unshakable determination. And now, as the football world gathers in Paris for the Ballon d’Or ceremony, his story has reached another critical point. The question burning in every fan’s mind is simple yet powerful: will Salah finally be crowned the best player in the world?
The Egyptian King is not new to greatness. Season after season, he has shown the kind of consistency that very few players in history can claim. In the 2024/25 campaign, he was unstoppable. He scored 29 goals in the Premier League alone, assisted 18 times, and finished as the Golden Boot winner and the Playmaker of the Year. No player dominated English football like he did. He swept every domestic award, winning the Player of the Year titles from the PFA, FWA, and Premier League. He was untouchable. Yet despite all these honors, the hunger for the Ballon d’Or remains strong, because this is the award that defines careers, the award that stamps a player’s name in history forever.
But football is rarely fair. Many times, players who deserve recognition are overlooked, and popularity often overshadows pure performance. That is why the plea from Egypt’s national team manager, Hossam Hassan, was so emotional and so powerful. Ahead of the ceremony, Hassan spoke directly to the decision-makers, the journalists, and the voters, asking them to do the right thing, to finally recognize Mohamed Salah as the world’s best. His words carried the weight of millions, because Salah is not just a player to Egyptians—he is their son, their pride, their hero.
Hossam Hassan did not mince his words. He said, “Considering the difficulties he has faced throughout his career, he deserves it. Considering the challenges he has overcome, he deserves it. Considering the years of brilliance, excellence, and creativity in the strongest league in the world, he deserves it.” Those words were not just statements; they were cries from the heart. They reflected the journey of Salah, a man who started in Nagrig, a small Egyptian village, and fought his way through rejection, hardship, and obstacles to become a global superstar.
Salah’s road has never been easy. When he first went to Europe, he was doubted at Chelsea, discarded before he could even prove himself. But instead of giving up, he went to Italy, rebuilt his reputation at Fiorentina and Roma, and then made his legendary move to Liverpool. Since then, he has rewritten the history books. He has scored more than 200 goals for the club, won the Premier League, the Champions League, the FA Cup, the League Cup, the Club World Cup, and many more trophies. Year after year, he has been Liverpool’s savior, the man who steps up when the team needs him most.
Hossam Hassan reminded everyone of something deeper when he said, “It is hard to reach the top, but the real difficulty lies in staying at the top.” That one sentence perfectly describes Salah’s greatness. Many players have one or two good seasons. They rise quickly and then fade. But Salah has been at the top for nearly a decade. He has remained consistent in the toughest league in the world, against the hardest defenses, under the brightest spotlight. And even now, at 33 years old, he is still breaking records, still producing numbers that younger players can only dream about. That is the definition of greatness.
And yet, Salah faces competition. The 2024/25 Ballon d’Or race is tight. Ousmane Dembele had a fantastic season with PSG, winning the treble: Ligue 1, the French Cup, and the Champions League. He scored 33 goals, made 13 assists, and shone in some of the biggest European games, including against Liverpool at Anfield. Lamine Yamal, the Barcelona wonderkid, had a breakout year, winning La Liga and the Copa del Rey while delivering 18 goals and 21 assists at just 17 years old. Raphinha also produced incredible numbers with Barcelona, while Kylian Mbappe scored 43 goals for Real Madrid, even though he did not lift major trophies. The race is filled with talent, but numbers alone tell a story that Salah deserves this moment.
Looking at the stats, Salah’s 34 goals and 23 assists across all competitions are not only extraordinary, they came in the Premier League, the most competitive and unforgiving league in the world. His performances carried Liverpool to another title, while Barcelona and PSG dominate in less intense domestic competitions. That is why many believe the Ballon d’Or should go to Salah this year. It is not just about goals or trophies—it is about the impact, the difficulty, and the level of consistency.
But football politics are cruel. The Champions League is often the deciding factor in Ballon d’Or voting. Liverpool’s poor run in Europe last season may be the one weakness that voters use to deny Salah his crown. Meanwhile, Dembele’s Champions League heroics have placed him in pole position. The media hype surrounding Lamine Yamal, the teenage prodigy, may also sway some votes. That is why the plea from Hossam Hassan was so important. He reminded the world that this is not just about one season—it is about a legacy.
Salah has already had four top-ten finishes in the Ballon d’Or voting. He has been knocking on the door for years, proving time and again that he belongs among the best. Last season was his crowning moment, the peak of all his years of hard work, the one campaign where everything came together. To deny him now would not just be unfair, it would be cruel.
For Egyptians, this is personal. Salah is more than a player—he is a national treasure. His success has inspired a generation of young kids to believe in themselves. He has carried Egypt on his back in the Africa Cup of Nations, in World Cup qualifiers, and in global tournaments. Every goal he scores for Liverpool echoes back home, where fans gather in cafes and homes to watch their hero shine. To see him win the Ballon d’Or would not just be a personal victory; it would be a victory for Africa, for the Arab world, and for every underdog who ever dreamed of making it big.
The streets of Cairo, Alexandria, and his hometown Nagrig are already filled with anticipation. Egyptians are praying, chanting, and waiting for the announcement in Paris. They know what this would mean. They know how rare it is for African players to be recognized at this level. George Weah, the Liberian legend, remains the only African to have ever won the Ballon d’Or, back in 1995. Since then, countless African stars have been ignored despite their brilliance. Salah winning would break nearly three decades of injustice, sending a message that African excellence deserves global recognition.
But even beyond Egypt and Africa, Salah’s story is universal. He represents resilience, humility, and dedication. He never let fame change him. He remains close to his roots, building hospitals and schools in his hometown, donating to charity, and never forgetting where he came from. That humility, combined with his football brilliance, makes him one of the most loved figures in the sport.
As the Ballon d’Or ceremony begins in Paris, all eyes will be on Salah. The cameras will capture his smile, his calmness, and maybe even his nerves. For him, this is more than an individual award. It is the final piece of the puzzle, the ultimate recognition of a career that has already inspired millions. If his name is called, the celebrations will shake Anfield, Cairo, and countless cities around the world. If it is not, the disappointment will be heavy, but the legacy of Salah will remain untouched. Because whether the Ballon d’Or voters recognize it or not, he has already proven himself as one of the greatest players of this generation.
Still, the fans hope. The prayers continue. The plea of Hossam Hassan rings in the ears of those who will vote. “Isn’t it time for football to do him justice?” he asked. The answer should be yes. Because justice in football is rare, and when it comes, it must be embraced. Mohamed Salah deserves the Ballon d’Or. He has earned it with sweat, blood, and brilliance. He has stayed at the top longer than anyone thought possible. He has been the pride of Liverpool, the pride of Egypt, the pride of Africa. And now, as Paris waits, the world holds its breath to see if football will finally give him the crown he
