Steve McManaman thinks Liverpool ace Sadio Mane should win this season's Ballon d'Or.
Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema is the favourite for the prestigious award after inspiring Real Madrid to the La Liga title, the Champions League final - which will be against Liverpool - and victory in the Spanish Super Cup. The 34-year-old has scored 43 goals in as many appearances this season.
Mane, meanwhile, has helped Liverpool win the EFL Cup, as well as reach the finals of both the Champions League and FA Cup. The Reds also have a chance of winning the Premier League, sitting one point behind leaders and champions Manchester City.
Yet it's at international level where Mane has really flourished. The 30-year-old scored the winning penalty to secure victory for Senegal in February's Africa Cup of Nations final against Egypt. He repeated the trick a month later - against the same opponent - to book Senegal's spot at this year's World Cup in Qatar.
But Benzema has also achieved success at international level this season. He scored in both the semi-final and final of the Nations League in October to inspire France to victory. It was Benzema's first honour for his country at senior level.
Despite this, former Liverpool and Real winger Steve McManaman has backed Mane to win the Ballon d'Or. "I was going to say Mane," the Englishman told BT Sport on Wednesday when asked. "He has won the AFCON and if he scores in the [Champions League] final too, there are lots of different scenarios. But it is great to see Benzema get his rewards."
Who should win the Ballon d'Or? Let us know in the comments below!
The winner of the Ballon d'Or will be announced in October. It's the first year the prize will be decided by a player's achievements during the season and not the calendar year, meaning the first few months of the next term - and the World Cup - will be irrelevant.
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry believes it's between Mane and Benzema for the illustrious honour. The two players will meet in the Champions League final on May 28 in Paris after Liverpool defeated Villarreal and Real edged Manchester City.
"If you think about the final and to make it even bigger, the two favourites for the Ballon d’Or are Mane and Benzema," Henry told CBS Sports on Wednesday.
"So that will add a little extra spice into it. I still believe that Benzema is ahead, but if Mane wins it with Liverpool and they do make the quadruple, that would be a pretty strong case. It would be great for Africa, but I’m still going with Benzema."
One man who might have something to say about the debate is Mohamed Salah, who was recently named the Football Writers' Association (FWA) Footballer of the Year and has a good chance of winning Liverpool's and the PFA's comparative honours.
Salah has been Liverpool's talisman this season, which could edge him above Mane in the Ballon d'Or vote. The Egyptian, 29, has scored 30 goals and provided 14 assists in 45 appearances in 2021-22.
