“I have no comment”
Mo Salah can’t stop scoring.
On Wednesday he helped himself to a couple of goals as Liverpool breezed past Everton in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, taking his tally for the season to 19 (we’re only just in December).
You just never doubt him now. Makes this sort of finish look so, so easy pic.twitter.com/5mVo6wpaUl
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) December 1, 2021
The Egyptian’s performances this year have seen many – including his own manager – claim he is currently the best player in the world but, unfortunately for Mo, those voting for this year’s Ballon d’Or didn’t share this opinion.
It was announced earlier this week that Lionel Messi had won the award for a record seventh time. While he may not have been at the very peak of his powers for all of it, the Barcelona Paris Saint-Germain man has still managed 41 goals for clubs and country this year, playing an influential role in ending Argentina’s wait for Copa America glory.
QUIZ: Name every man to win a Ballon d’Or
While few – apart from a certain Polish striker – will have too many complaints that Messi won the award again, the fact that Salah was nowhere in sight raised eyebrows.
Robert Lewandowski and Jorginho came second and third respectively, but Salah only ranked seventh. After his brace at Goodison on Wednesday, Amazon Prime asked the 29-year-old for his response to finishing so far down the list.
His reaction was telling: bursting into laughter and shaking his head before the interviewer had even finished his question.
“I have no comment,” he repeated, continuing to laugh.
"I have no comment" 👀
Mo Salah's reaction to finishing 7th in the #BallonDor rankings… 😆#PLonPrime #EVELIV pic.twitter.com/StxyvBoU7W
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 1, 2021
Prior to the game, Jurgen Klopp had expressed his surprise that Salah didn’t challenge Messi.
“It is not in my hands,” he said at a press conference. “Is the Ballon d’Or a journalists vote? Then yeah, don’t ask me, it’s your fault.
“If you think he should be higher up, then you should convince your colleagues. You can give it to Lionel Messi for the career he has had, all these kind of things, but then don’t give it to Robert Lewandowski this time – so it’s quite tricky to win it at all. Mo definitely should have been higher up.”
Related links:
- Ballon d’Or organisers “thinking about” awarding Lewandowski 2020 award
- Evra bizarrely congratulates Messi for winning Ballon d’Or, despite winner not being announced
- Lionel Messi to put seventh Ballon d’Or in Barcelona museum
