Former Ghana international Asamoah Gyan believes Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané were deserving of football’s most prestigious individual award but were overlooked in Ballon d’Or voting. The veteran striker shared his thoughts on Rio Ferdinand Presents, reflecting on the recognition of African players in the award’s history.
“Salah could have won a Ballon d’Or. Mané could have won a Ballon d’Or,” Gyan said.
“I always ask questions why these things happen. Maybe they have their way of nominating the players. But these players I’ve mentioned, one of them for sure, could have won the Ballon d’Or,” he added.
Gyan’s comments underline the ongoing debate about African players and their recognition on the global stage. To date, Liberian legend George Weah remains the only African to have won the Ballon d’Or, securing the trophy in 1995.
Salah, the Liverpool and Egypt forward, has consistently ranked among the world’s elite players. He achieved his highest finish in the 2025 Ballon d’Or, placing fourth, a mark of his sustained excellence. Previous seasons saw him similarly ranked highly, yet the top honour eluded him despite standout performances in both the Premier League and Champions League.
Mané came even closer in 2022, finishing second in the Ballon d’Or standings following a stellar season that included guiding Senegal to Africa Cup of Nations glory.
Gyan himself has firsthand experience with the Ballon d’Or, having been ranked 18th in 2010 after leading Ghana to the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup. Ghana’s all-time leading scorer and a veteran of multiple World Cups, Gyan’s reflections carry weight in discussions about African representation in football’s top individual awards.
