Liverpool have all but beaten Arsenal to the Premier League title this season.
The Reds have had a phenomenal campaign in the league so far, and although they have crashed out of the Champions League, there is a lot to be happy about this season.
Mohamed Salah is the biggest reason why Liverpool have been so good this term. The Egypt international is having a phenomenal campaign and is many people’s favourite to win the Ballon d’Or.
However, Thierry Henry disagrees.
The legendary Frenchman believes another left-footed winger is ahead of Salah in the race to win the prestigious award.
Thierry Henry explains why Raphinha deserves the Ballon d’Or more than Mohamed Salah
Raphinha is having a tremendous season at Barcelona.
The Brazilian, who joined the Catalans from Leeds in a £55 million deal in 2022 (Sky Sports), has been constantly linked with a move back to England over the last few windows, but he is playing out of his skin this term.
He increased his tally on Tuesday night in the Champions League by scoring two and assisting one in a 3-1 win over Benfica.
On the same night, Salah failed to score or assist against Paris Saint-Germain, and his Liverpool side were knocked out of the competition.
Henry, who has missed out on the Ballon d’Or in the past himself, feels Salah will not win the award as things stand – he says Raphinha is ahead of him for one reason.
He said on CBS Sports: “Raphinha is ahead, for me, now. Yes, yes, he is ahead because of what he is doing in the Champions League. He’s on 11 goals in the Champions League.
“Mo Salah is a great contender for it, Kane is a contender as we’ve spoken. Dembele, it depends.
“In the year of the Champions League, if you perform, on top of winning your league, you obviously are going to have a call there.
“Raphinha is on a lot of goals with only one penalty. I’m not saying Kane shouldn’t be having a penalty and Mo Salah is having a season in the Premier League that we will never see again – well, hopefully (we will) because when you have a record, it’s to be beaten.
“I’m saying if a guy has virtually the same amount of goals as you guys score without penalties – I’m not going to say that’s bad, it’s not bad, it’s outstanding – but this guy then, I’ve to talk a bit more about him.”
Raphinha vs Mohamed Salah stats in 2024/25
Barcelona have changed their stance on Raphinha now.
The Catalans were previously open to cashing in on him. TBR Football revealed that Arsenal would like to sign Raphinha if he is available, but he isn’t. That’s because of the amazing season he is having, and Barcelona want to extend his contract.
But, how do his numbers compare against that of Salah?
| Games | Goals | Assists | Minutes per goal or assist | |
| Raphinha in 2024/25 | 41 | 27 | 19 | 76.78 |
| Mohamed Salah in 2024/25 | 42 | 32 | 22 | 66.77 |
Salah’s numbers are still superior to Raphinha’s, but the Egypt international cannot win the Champions League this season.
Raphinha can, and that could sway the votes if it comes down to it at the Ballon d’Or ceremony later this year.
