In response to a question in a media interview about which player deserves to win the award from his perspective, Brazilian player Casemiro said: “The choice is difficult, but I think in my opinion, Mohamed Salah deserves the ‘Ballon d’Or’ at the moment, thanks to his impact in the games.” He continued: “Salah scores many goals and also provides many decisive passes. I believe ‘Liverpool’ did not win the Champions League due to Salah’s slight decline in the second half of the season.” Casemiro added: “But Mohamed Salah was the most balanced performing player last season.” In August, the French magazine “France Football” revealed the shortlist of nominees for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, which includes 30 players, among them the Arab stars Mohamed Salah, the captain of Liverpool, and Achraf Hakimi, the star of Paris Saint-Germain. Salah and Hakimi had an amazing season with their teams, with Hakimi leading Paris Saint-Germain to achieve the historic treble (French League, French Cup, and Champions League), as well as securing second place in the United States. Salah led Liverpool to clinch the English Premier League title for the 20th time in its history, equaling Manchester United’s record. Salah won the Golden Boot as the top scorer in the league with 29 goals and the Best Playmaker award with 18 assists. The ‘Ballon d’Or’ is considered one of the most prestigious individual awards in the world of football, and football fans eagerly await the announcement of the winner, as Salah and Hakimi highlight the hopes of Arab fans for achieving a historic accomplishment.
