Salah’s historic season falls short of Ballon d’Or

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Mohamed Salah delivered one of the most remarkable individual seasons in Premier League history, but it won’t be enough to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or, writes Dylan Johnson.

The Egyptian forward scored 29 goals and provided 18 assists in 38 games, breaking the record for most goal contributions in a single Premier League season. He equalled the totals previously achieved over 42-game campaigns by Alan Shearer (1994–95) and Andrew Cole (1993–94), both of whom had 34 goals and 13 assists.

Salah became the first player to win the Premier League Golden Boot, Golden Playmaker, and Player of the Season awards in a single season and now shares the record for the most Golden Boots (four) with Thierry Henry. He also completed the Golden Boot, Playmaker double for a second time, repeating the feat he first achieved in 2021–22.

Across all competitions, Salah registered 57 goal contributions in 53 appearances. He played a pivotal role as Liverpool won their 20th Premier League title, combining consistency, creativity, and finishing. The Egyptian also earned the Football Writers’ Association men’s Footballer of the Year award, cementing his status as one of Europe’s top players. By every measure, Salah’s season is likely the best the Premier League has ever seen.

Despite the statistics and accolades, Salah faces strong obstacles in the race for the Ballon d’Or. Outside international tournaments, the UEFA Champions League is the most influential factor in deciding the award. Liverpool’s exit in the round of 16 to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain, leaves Salah behind players who succeeded at the highest continental level. PSG’s Ousmane Dembele, who won the treble, including the Champions League, is the clear favourite.

Other players also stand out. Barcelona’s teenage star Lamine Yamal produced a brilliant season, scoring 18 goals and creating 25 assists across all competitions. His age and dominant performances in both the Champions League and EURO 2024 make him one of the most exciting players in Europe. Raphinha, Yamal’s Barcelona teammate, contributed heavily to Barcelona’s La Liga win and their late Champions League run, recording 59 goal contributions in 57 games.

Salah’s numbers are outstanding. He produced more goal contributions than Dembele and Yamal, and his Premier League season was historic. But the weight given to Champions League performance and team achievements puts him at a disadvantage. Winning only the Premier League, even in record-breaking fashion, will unfortunately, not be enough in the current voting system.

There is also the reality that African players rarely win the Ballon d’Or. George Weah remains the only African winner, in 1995. Salah’s performances deserve recognition on the world stage, yet history makes it unlikely he will be awarded the trophy. Add to that the fact that only three Premier League players have ever won the award, with Michael Owen (2001), Cristiano Ronaldo (2008) and Rodri (2024) the only recipients, Salah’s chances appear even slimmer.

In the post-Messi and Ronaldo era, only Luka Modric and Karim Benzema have disrupted the duopoly that dominated the Ballon d’Or for more than 15 years. For a player outside the top continental competitions, even the greatest domestic season is often insufficient. Salah’s campaign, however historic, will be remembered as one of the finest in Premier League history without earning the global recognition of the Ballon d’Or.

Photo: Michael Regan/Getty Images/Getty Images For The Premier League

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Dylan Johnson