Mohamed Salah’s Historic 2024/25 Season: Liverpool Legend Achieves Career-High Fourth Place in the Ballon d’Or.
In the glittering halls of the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, Mohamed Salah's phenomenal 2024/25 campaign was recognized with a fourth-place finish in the Ballon d'Or—his highest-ever ranking in football's most coveted individual award. Despite not attending the ceremony, the Liverpool forward's stellar season, which saw him lead the club to a historic 20th league title, placed him firmly among the world's elite.
The Final Standings: A Career High
The Ballon d'Or, voted for by an international panel of journalists, national team coaches, and captains, is awarded based on individual and collective performances, player class, and fair play. This year's vote saw Salah finish behind winner Ousmane Dembélé, Barcelona's Lamine Yamal (2nd), and Dembélé's PSG teammate Vitinha (3rd). Fourth place marks a significant personal achievement for Salah, surpassing his previous best of fifth in 2019 and 2022. It is a testament to his enduring quality and his ability to produce world-class numbers year after year. Several other Liverpool players were also recognized on the 30-man shortlist, including Alexis Mac Allister (22nd), Virgil van Dijk (28th), and Florian Wirtz (29th). Meanwhile, Alisson Becker finished as the runner-up for the Men's Yashin trophy for the world's best goalkeeper.
Anatomy of a Masterpiece: Salah's 2024/25 Campaign
Salah's high finish was propelled by one of the most productive seasons of his career. Under new manager Arne Slot, he was the undeniable driving force behind a Liverpool side that clinched the Premier League title with four games to spare. His individual statistics were nothing short of extraordinary.
The Verdict: An Analysis of the Vote
Trophies vs. Talent
The final rankings highlight a long-standing debate in Ballon d'Or voting: the weight of major team trophies. Dembélé's win was undeniably powered by PSG's Champions League victory, often seen as the ultimate tie-breaker in close contests.
Premier League Dominance
Salah's performance in what is widely considered the world's most competitive league earned him immense respect. Sweeping all major English individual awards is a rare feat that rightly placed him in the top five.
Legacy Cemented
While not the winner, a fourth-place finish at age 33 demonstrates remarkable longevity and consistency at the highest level. This campaign will be remembered as one of the finest individual seasons in Liverpool's modern history.
A Story of Success
Ultimately, the narrative of PSG conquering Europe for the first time created an irresistible story for voters. While Salah's individual numbers were arguably stronger, the historic nature of PSG's treble gave their players the decisive edge.
Frequently Asked Questions
The 2025 Ballon d'Or was won by Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembélé. His victory was largely attributed to his pivotal role in PSG's historic season, where they won both Ligue 1 and their first-ever UEFA Champions League title.
In the 2024/25 season, Mohamed Salah scored 34 goals and provided 23 assists across all competitions for Liverpool. He was named the Premier League, PFA, and FWA Player of the Year after leading Liverpool to their 20th league title.
Ballon d'Or voting heavily weighs major team trophies, especially the UEFA Champions League. While Salah's individual season was arguably one of the best in the world, Ousmane Dembélé's success in Europe's top club competition gave him a decisive edge with the voters (journalists, national team coaches, and captains).
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