Arne Slot supports the exceptional Mohamed Salah in his pursuit of the Ballon d’Or, but emphasizes that it will only happen if Liverpool secures titles this season.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has made it clear that Mohamed Salah’s chances of winning the prestigious Ballon d’Or hinge on the Egyptian forward lifting silverware with the club. Salah, who has been in scintillating form this season, is already being touted as one of the early favorites for this year’s accolade. His contributions have been pivotal in propelling Liverpool to the summit of the Premier League, where they currently sit 11 points clear ahead of their midweek clash against Newcastle United.

The forward’s brilliance has not only bolstered Liverpool’s domestic campaign but has also seen them advance to the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League as the top team in the league phase. With 25 goals and 16 assists to his name in the Premier League this season, Salah is well-positioned to break several records in England’s top flight.

However, Slot emphasized that for Salah to remain in the conversation for the Ballon d’Or, he must maintain his exceptional performances. “It’s a good thing that Mo is in the discussion because it means he does well and it means that we are doing well,” Slot remarked. “But for him to stay in that discussion, he should bring in the same performances as he’s done for seven or eight months now.”

The manager also pointed out that historically, winning the Ballon d’Or often requires a player to secure silverware. “I think, in general, someone that wins the Ballon d’Or needs to win something as well, so it’s a great challenge that’s in front of us but also in front of him,” he added.

The era of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominating the award appears to be fading, with Manchester City midfielder Rodri currently holding the title. Before Rodri, only Karim Benzema and Luka Modric managed to break the Messi-Ronaldo stranglehold between 2008 and 2023.

When asked to compare Salah to the likes of Messi and Ronaldo in the debate over football’s greatest players, Slot was cautious. “It’s so difficult to compare players with each other. It’s not fair to anyone. I think Mo has his own career and Mo has been outstanding,” he said. “Mo has had some outstanding seasons here at Liverpool and we hope he can continue this for a longer period of time, but to do that, he first has to extend his contract, of course.”

Salah’s contract situation remains a hot topic, with discussions about a new deal to keep him at Anfield beyond this summer still ongoing. Slot acknowledged the implications of Salah’s performances on his contract negotiations. “You can say the better he does, the more expensive he might become,” he noted. “If he were to do really worse, we’d have second thoughts if we wanted to extend his contract, so for everyone, it’s best he brings in the performances he does now. Maybe only for the one that has to pay him, it’s not the best.”

Slot also highlighted Salah’s influence on his teammates, stating, “If you want to play at this club, you need to be at his level. Otherwise, you’re almost useless to play at this club because we only need players that are at the top of the game, because this is one of the best or the best club in the world to play for.”

As Liverpool continue their pursuit of glory, all eyes will be on Salah to see if he can deliver the silverware that could finally secure him the Ballon d’Or.