World soccer is replete with talent that blazes brightly, but only those who win silverware have their names immortalized in history. Mohamed Salah is having a monster of a season, racking up goals, assists, and records that place him in the bracket of the world's best players. Is that, though, enough to land the Ballon d'Or? Liverpool manager Arne Slot believes that without team honors, individual ones will not be forthcoming.
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It's a fair point. Salah is playing at an elite level, carrying Liverpool on his back. But the Ballon d'Or is not a stats award. Without major titles, he might find himself being just another great performer who falls short.
Salah is unstoppable
Salah is dominating the Premier League like never before. He is leading the scoring and playmaking charts with 25 goals and 16 assists, respectively. No one affects games more than him. Stretch that to all competitions, and the numbers only become more ridiculous, 30 goals and 21 assists in just 38 games.
Arne Slot knows exactly what he has in his hands and wasn't shy about praising Liverpool's No. 11: "It's a good thing that Mo is in the discussion because that's a sign that he's doing well and we're doing well. To stay in the conversation, however, he has to keep having the same performances he's been having for the past seven or eight months. Usually, to win the Ballon d'Or, you have to win something (with the team). It's a big challenge ahead of him and ahead of us."
Slot hit the nail on the head, if Salah is to be genuinely considered for soccer's most sparkling award, he needs to convert his individual brilliance into silverware for Liverpool.
Do trophies need Ballon d'Or winners?
If history has proven anything, it's that stats help, but trophies seal the deal. Even those that have enjoyed absurd seasons have been left with nothing. Robert Lewandowski in 2020 had obscene figures, yet with the award canceled that year, he saw his gilt-edged chance disappear. Franck Ribéry in 2013 was the driving force behind a runaway Bayern side, yet individual voting worked against him.
Salah finds himself in the same position now. Liverpool are leading the Premier League with 64 points, 11 points clear of Arsenal, and are the clear title favorites. Should they go on to win the title, Salah instantly improves his Ballon d'Or credentials.
And in the Champions League, Liverpool topped the group stage and now has Paris Saint-Germain in the Round of 16. A successful European run would send Salah's chances soaring.
Slot admits that mindset in his star forward: "I like the way he approaches this challenge, not just by scoring a decent goal or getting an assist, but by wanting to win it for the team. His defensive work rate against Man City was fantastic. If we achieve something as a team, then his opportunities of winning an individual award such as the Ballon d'Or will be so much higher."
Records are falling, but Salah's future remains uncertain
Salah might be breaking records, but a massive question mark hangs over his Liverpool future. His contract runs out at the end of the season, and the whispers of a transfer are growing louder by the day. Middle Eastern clubs are monitoring his situation closely, and an extension with Liverpool is in jeopardy. The Reds now have a tough call to make, retain their superstar or start preparing for life without him.
Slot did not hesitate to speak about the circumstances: "You can look at it both ways. You can say the better he plays more, the more expensive he becomes. But if he plays worse, we'd be uncertain if we should give him a contract extension. For all of us, the best is that he keeps playing at the level he is playing currently. If you're going to play for this club, you must be at his level. Otherwise, you're basically useless here, because we only need players who are at the top of their game."
That's a fair but brutal observation. There is no room for complacency at Liverpool. If Salah keeps up this form, the extension of his contract will be the best choice for all parties. Yet, if there is a mega offer, Liverpool might find themselves giving serious thought to a change.