5 players who can beat Lionel Messi to the Ballon d'Or this year

#2 Sadio Mané

Mane has taken up from where he left off last season

When Sadio Mané finished outside the final three for the Ballon d'Or award last season, many quickly pointed out that he deserved better than a fourth-place finish and should have been on the podium during the award gala in December. Such was his contribution to Liverpool's success both domestically and in Europe.

Well, the Senegalese has come back to get what he truly deserves this season and he is doing a lot to win more hearts. The winger has bagged 11 goals and eight assists from 22 Premier League appearances so far this season, helping Jürgen Klopp's men to maintain their stand at the summit of the EPL table. He's also recorded two goals and two assists in six Champions League games.

Liverpool have a great chance to make an even more impressive history this season. They are yet to lose any match in the English top-flight and currently top second-placed Manchester City by 22 points after 25 games. The league title is destined for Anfield. If they can manage to pull a repeat of their European triumph this term, then, Mané could become the second African superstar to claim the Ballon d'Or after George Weah.