Benzema is in a moment of grace with Real Madrid; if the Merengues are still in the Champions League, it is thanks to the Frenchman. All the specialists put him as one of the top, if not the top, favourite to win the Ballon d’Or.
But perhaps there is another player who, without so many spotlights, may have more arguments to win it; we are talking about the Senegalese Sadio Mane.
Obviously, it is a good time to bet that the Senegalese could be crowned the best player in the world. For this you have to go to Bookmaker-Ratings.In where you can find the best betting options with the best odds.It is a fact that Messi and Cristiano are not going to win it; yes, maybe they also present good numbers. But the changing of the guard is starting, and the Liverpool player has a lot of arguments to win it.
We are not saying that Benzema does not deserve it, but Mane can sign a historic season with really impressive numbers, and what is better, with trophies.
Changes to the Ballon d’Or
France Football announced that there will be changes in the selection of the winner, after the controversy that arose with Messi and Lewandowski.
For starters, only the calendar season will be counted, i.e., from August to July. So the Qatar World Cup is ruled out.
Only members of the top 100 of the FIFA ranking will vote; this is to avoid countries without a football culture contaminating the vote.
The most important change is perhaps in the criteria for voting for a player, and these include individual performance (which is the most important) then collective performance will be put in the balance.These criteria are why we say that Mane has a slight advantage over the Frenchman. The African player has been the best with the national team and with Liverpool. He meets both criteria, the problem is that he does not have as much press on his side.
The arguments
If Liverpool is in contention for what could be a historic quadruple, it is in part because of Mane’s performances. This season, he has played 42 games and scored 19 goals, one of his highest-scoring seasons. But although his goal-scoring record is not like that of Benzema, who has 39 goals, he has been instrumental in Liverpool’s play.
From his left flank, he has generated 68% of the Reds’ attacks, and although he has only distributed 3 assists, his playmaking is perhaps greater than that of the Frenchman.
Playing as a playmaker on the flanks is not easy and Mane is doing it; it is perhaps even more complicated than what Benzema does because the Frenchman plays free and naturally has more contact with the ball. This increases the difficulty of what Mane does because to get in contact with the ball he has to run more and wear himself out more. It speaks volumes that Liverpool continues to fight for everything they play, and Madrid can only win the double. Mane has been decisive in everything, and Benzema, unfortunately, could not avoid elimination from the Copa del Rey. In theory, the Senegalese have the advantage here.
With the national team, Mane won the African Cup and Benzema couldn’t win the European Championship. For the second criterion, Mane would be far ahead of Karim.
In short: Mane can win everything by being decisive from the left flank. Benzema, without the cup and La Liga, already assured, can win the Champions League, where he could meet Liverpool in a hypothetical final.
But if they are eliminated against City, will we still consider Benzema for the award?
Mane has every reason to be the second African to win the award and to be considered the best in the world.
Obviously, there is still a bit of the season to go, and important titles have to be played for.
Liverpool can win it all or lose it all and Madrid is in the same boat, but individually they are both candidates.
Who would you give it to?
