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With Salah's Ballon d'Or claim gaining steam, the Liverpool star's prospects could be helped or harmed by his AFCON participation
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has come under fire for downplaying the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as a major tournament while discussing Mohamed Salah’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or.
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Speaking on Sky Sports after Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Manchester City, Carragher suggested that Salah’s nationality and Egypt’s lack of success on the global stage could hinder his chances of claiming football’s top individual prize.
Carragher dismisses AFCON as major tournament
When discussing Salah’s Ballon d’Or credentials, Carragher stated that the Egyptian’s problem is that he does not play in a major tournament, saying, 'I think the problem [is] the fact he's with Egypt, and he's probably not playing in the major tournament as such or maybe got a great chance of winning.
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“I think it's either the Champions League or the major tournament. Normally, the player who excels in that, like Vini Jr and (Kylian) Mbappe right now, Real Madrid looking really good going for the Champions League.”
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Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards swiftly corrected him, clarifying that AFCON is indeed a prestigious tournament, saying, “Just to say, AFCON is a major tournament because a lot of people are at home saying ‘they aren’t taking it seriously’. AFCON is a big tournament, just so you know.”
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Carragher responded by questioning whether Egypt would be contenders for the World Cup, implying that only the biggest international competitions influence the Ballon d’Or race.
However, Sturridge shut down the argument, saying, “If you win the Euros or Copa America, it’s deemed to be big, so the AFCON is on the same level.”
Salah’s Ballon d’Or case under inspection
Despite Carragher’s comments, Salah remains a strong contender for this year’s Ballon d’Or after some outstanding performances for The Reds.
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The Liverpool talisman has already netted 25 goals and provided 15 assists this season in the league and could lead the Reds to a historic treble, including the Premier League, Champions League, and Carabao Cup.
As history has shown, standout performances in elite club or international tournaments often determine the Ballon d’Or winner.
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Recent winners such as Lionel Messi, Karim Benzema, and Luka Modric all shone in major competitions before claiming the award.
AFCON, set to return at the end of 2025 in Morocco, will provide Salah with another opportunity to stake a claim for the biggest individual prize in football. While he has twice finished as a runner-up with Egypt, lifting the trophy would further solidify his standing among the world’s best players.
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