Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has come under fire for his comments about the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and Mohamed Salah’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher said, “I think the problem is that Salah is with Egypt, and he’s probably not playing in a major tournament or has a great chance of winning.” He added, “I think it’s either the Champions League or the major tournaments that influence who wins the Ballon d’Or.”
Carragher’s comments were quickly challenged by fellow pundits, including Micah Richards and Daniel Sturridge, and led to further criticism from former Aston Villa and Egypt star Ahmed Elmohamady. Disgraced former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys also slammed Carragher, calling his views “unforgivable ignorance.”
In response to the backlash, Carragher took to X (formerly Twitter) to clarify his point. He explained, “The point I was trying to make yesterday was that Mo Salah is at a disadvantage playing for Egypt in terms of winning the Ballon d’Or. If Salah had an average season at Liverpool but won the AFCON and was named MVP, I don’t think he would win the Ballon d’Or. But if Mbappe had an average season at Real Madrid but won the World Cup or Euros, he would still have a great chance.”
Carragher’s comments have sparked a heated debate about the weight of AFCON in comparison to other international tournaments, and whether players from smaller footballing nations are at a disadvantage when competing for individual awards.
