Why Mohamed Salah is leading the Ballon d'Or race

In the 2024/25 Premier League season, Mohamed Salah is not just continuing his legacy as one of the best players in the world - he’s rewriting history.

Week after week, the Egyptian forward seems to be breaking records, reaching new milestones, and leading Liverpool towards only their second Premier League title.

With his stunning performances, Salah is making a strong case for being the frontrunner for the prestigious Ballon d'Or, awarded to the best footballer in the world.

His achievements this season have been remarkable, with his latest feat coming in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Manchester City.

In that match, Salah scored the opening goal and then assisted Dominik Szoboszlai to secure the second, which saw Salah become the first player in Premier League history to both score and assist in both fixtures against the reigning champions in a single season.

Adding to that, Salah has scored nine goals and provided six assists against sides managed by Pep Guardiola.

No other player has a better record against Guardiola’s teams in the Premier League, emphasising Salah’s importance in Liverpool’s rivalry with Manchester City.

Salah has reached new heights in terms of both goals and assists this season. His 25 goals in the Premier League have him well clear of second-place Alexander Isak and former Golden Boot winner Erling Haaland.

With a current total of 25 goals in 27 appearances, Salah is on track to surpass his own personal best of 32 goals set in the 2017/18 season, a remarkable achievement considering the intense competition in the Premier League.

But Salah isn’t just a goal scorer - he is also creating opportunities for his teammates. His 16 assists this season are the most by any player in the Premier League, and they make him a genuine contender for the league’s assist record. With his vision, precision, and timing, Salah has become one of the most complete players in world football, providing a perfect balance of goals and assists.

His performance in assisting and scoring is especially impressive considering that he has contributed to 41 total goal involvements (goals + assists), placing him among the top players in Europe's top five leagues. In fact, Salah is only the third player in history to achieve such a feat in the Premier League, joining the ranks of Luis Suarez (43 goal involvements in 2013/14) and Erling Haaland (44 in 2022/23).

He’s also the only player to hit the 40+ goal involvement mark twice, a testament to his enduring quality.

In terms of away performances, Salah has been equally exceptional, registering 16 away goals this season—tying the record for the most away goals in a single Premier League campaign. He shares this record with Kevin Phillips (1999/00) and Harry Kane (2022/23), but Salah’s ability to shine on the road has been crucial for Liverpool’s title charge.

Moreover, his 11 assists on the road have him level with Cesc Fabregas’ 2014/15 total, further solidifying his place as one of the most influential players in the league.

What stands out most about Salah this season is his consistency. He has scored in 11 consecutive Sunday matches in the Premier League, the longest such streak by any player in league history.

Yet, Salah's contribution to Liverpool extends beyond just his personal statistics. His leadership on the field has been instrumental in helping the team build an 11-point lead at the top of the Premier League table, with Liverpool in the hunt for their 20th league title.

Salah has led by example, scoring crucial goals and providing key assists in high-stakes games.

With his remarkable numbers this season, Salah has positioned himself as a legitimate contender for the Ballon d'Or, the ultimate individual accolade in football.

His performances have drawn comparisons to some of the game’s greatest, including Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, both of whom have been regulars in the Ballon d'Or conversation for over a decade.

Salah’s total of 25 goals and 16 assists this season in the Premier League makes him the leading player in Europe’s top five leagues for goal contributions, outpacing the likes of Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane and Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski.

When you factor in his leadership for Liverpool and the role he’s played in the team’s dominant campaign, Salah’s credentials for the Ballon d'Or are stronger than ever.

To further cement his place in the Ballon d'Or race, Salah has already made history by becoming the first player in Premier League history to be directly involved in 50 goals across all competitions.

His impressive goal-scoring and assist figures, coupled with Liverpool’s continued success, have led many to believe that he is deserving of the highest individual accolade in football.

With only a few months left in the season, Salah still has the opportunity to set even more records, and his performances could shape the course of both Liverpool’s title challenge and his own legacy.