Jurgen Klopp ‘surprised’ by Mo Salah’s Ballon d’Or ranking after Liverpool star finishes behind Cristiano Ronaldo
LIVERPOOL boss Jurgen Klopp has admitted he was "surprised" Mo Salah finished SEVENTH in the Ballon d'Or rankings on Monday night.
Lionel Messi scooped the award for a record-extending seventh time as he pipped Robert Lewandowski to the honour.
Chelsea duo Jorginho and N'Golo Kante also made the top five, either side of Karim Benzema in fourth.
Five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo finished sixth, with Salah behind him despite a remarkable start to the 2021-22 season.
And Klopp was rather taken aback by just how far down the Egyptian was in the rankings.
Speaking ahead of the Merseyside derby against Everton on Wednesday night, he said: "I was surprised about his [Salah's] position.
"Journalists vote for the Ballon d'Or so… if you think he should be higher up, you should convince your colleagues!
"You can always give it to Lionel Messi for the career he's had, but if you don't give it to Robert Lewandowski this time, then he will never get it.
"And Mo should have been higher up, definitely."
When asked about Salah and Lewandowski after winning the award yet again, Messi said: "Salah will have opportunities in the years to come.
"Both players [Salah and Lewandowski] are at their best at the moment and will have more chances to win it."
Propping up the rest of the top 10 behind Salah were Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne and Paris Saint-Germain pair Kylian Mbappe and Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Salah was the fourth-highest ranking Premier League player behind Jorginho, Kante and Ronaldo.
No other Liverpool players made it into the top 30.
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Raheem Sterling was the best-placed England player in 15th, narrowly ahead of Mason Mount in 19th and Harry Kane in 21st.
Donnarumma scooped the Yashin Trophy for best keeper, with Lewandowski claiming the inaugural Striker of the Year gong.
Chelsea were named the Club of the Year as their men's side won the Champions League while their women's team claimed the Women's Super League title and finished runners-up behind Barcelona in the Women's Champions League.
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