Ballon d'Or 2019: Top 5 Contenders from the Premier League

Modified Jul 22, 2022 23:43 GMT

Will the Ballon d'Or come home to the Premier League this year?

#4 Sadio Mane (Senegal, Liverpool)

Liverpool FC v Chelsea FC - Premier League

It is no surprise that Sadio Mane is among the top contenders for the Ballon d'Or from the Premier League this season. The Senegalese has been fantastic, so much so that he outshone Mohamed Salah to become Liverpool's most prudent attacker. Mane finished the season with 26 goals from 49 games in all competitions for Liverpool.

In the Premier League, the Senegalese was phenomenal in the left side of the front three. His speed and bag of tricks always kept the defenders on their toes, but Mane was also lethal with his finishing. He scored 22 times in the Premier League and won the Premier League Golden Boot, which he had to share with Salah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

It was also Mane's overall contribution which caught the eye. The Senegalese religiously tracked back to help out his defense and was versatile enough to ply across the front three. Even though Liverpool narrowly missed out on the Premier League title, Mane was crucial as Jurgen Klopp's side lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy.

The Senegalese will be next seen in the African Cup of Nations, and a stellar tournament could see him rise up the ranks among the contenders.

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Edited by Akarshak (Ishu) Roy