Mohamed Salah's Ballon d'Or Dreams Crushed After Liverpool's Champions League Exit
Fans have claimed that Mohamed Salah's chances of winning the prestigious Ballon d'Or award in 2025 are now "dead" following Liverpool's heartbreaking Champions League exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain. The Egyptian star, who has enjoyed a stellar 2024-25 campaign with the Reds, was visibly emotional after his team lost 4-1 on penalties at Anfield on Tuesday.
Salah, who had been considered one of the frontrunners for football's highest individual honor, was seen breaking down in tears after the defeat. Social media users were quick to react to images of the distraught Liverpool forward, with many suggesting his Ballon d'Or hopes had vanished while simultaneously promoting Barcelona's Raphinha as the new favorite.
"Balon d'or hopes are dead now. That's his pain. The best chance he possibly got. Soon to be Raphina's award," wrote a fan named Juje Punter on X. Another user, Barca Spaces, simply stated: "No Ballon d'Or for him. It's Raphinha's."
The sentiment was echoed by others, with DesmundOris commenting: "He knows his chances of getting the Ballon D'Or just got slimmer. The fear of Raphinha is real." Meanwhile, MOOD-Football offered a more sympathetic take: "Salah gave everything this season, but football is cruel. From Ballon d'Or frontrunner to crashing out early, this one hurts deep."
Some fans expressed solidarity with the Egyptian superstar. Imran Rafiq wrote: "Mo Salah has had an outstanding season, but Liverpool's loss to PSG yesterday likely ended his Ballon d'Or chances. This Liverpool side relies heavily on him. He's bailed them out countless times this season, but yesterday just wasn't his night."
The contrast in fortunes couldn't have been more stark. On the same day that Salah faltered, Barcelona winger Raphinha delivered another spectacular performance, scoring twice in a 3-1 victory over Benfica that secured the Catalan club's passage to the Champions League quarter-finals with a 4-1 aggregate win.
The Brazilian has now established himself as the Champions League's top scorer this season with an impressive 11 goals. His domestic form has been equally remarkable, with 13 goals in La Liga making him the fourth-highest scorer in Spain's top flight. This consistent brilliance has catapulted Raphinha into serious contention for his first Ballon d'Or.
Despite this Champions League disappointment, Salah must quickly regroup as Liverpool prepares for Sunday's Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United. The match represents an opportunity for the forward to secure his first trophy of the season with the Merseyside club.
