Michael Owen doubts Liverpool ace will land top individual honour | OneFootball

Mo Salah’s Ballon d’Or Hopes: Michael Owen Says “It’s Gone”

In a revealing interview on talkSPORT, former Ballon d’Or winner Michael Owen offered a candid assessment of Mohamed Salah’s chances of lifting the prestigious individual accolade this year. Joined by Jermaine Pennant, Owen’s perspective was grounded not in sentiment, but in experience—and the result was a sober dose of realism for Liverpool fans.

Ballon d’Or Criteria Demands Perfection

Michael Owen didn’t mince words when asked who he’d back to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or. “I would have said Mo Salah,” he began, before delivering a blow to any lingering optimism. “But getting knocked out to Paris Saint-Germain—even if Liverpool go and win the Premier League—I just can’t see that being enough.”

Owen, who knows the requirements of Ballon d’Or success intimately, highlighted the need to “tick every box.” Recalling his own triumph, he explained: “When I won it, we won five trophies that year. We also had a great year for England—beating Germany 5–1, etc. It was a real good year for the national team.”

For Salah, Owen suggested, the stars simply haven’t aligned. “Obviously [he] is capable. Obviously probably deserves one. But with Liverpool, I say only winning the Premier League—I’m just not sure that’ll be enough.”

Salah’s Individual Brilliance May Not Be Enough

This wasn’t a critique of Salah’s quality—far from it. Owen praised the Egyptian forward’s excellence but noted the Ballon d’Or is about more than individual brilliance. “You’ve got to have an outstanding season yourself and you’ve got to be part of an outstanding club—and ideally an international team.”

Photo: IMAGO

Owen floated hypothetical scenarios, pointing to potential late surges by rivals. “If Real Madrid go and win it, if Mbappé scores a hat-trick in the final or something like that… then I’m afraid it’ll be something like that that clinches it.”

In other words, Salah’s hopes are not only fading—they might already be gone.

Salah Still a Great—but Not This Year’s Winner

Salah’s place among the game’s elite isn’t up for debate, but as Michael Owen laid out, winning the Ballon d’Or demands a perfect storm of individual brilliance, team success, and global impact. Without a standout international tournament and with Liverpool’s Champions League campaign already ended, Salah’s shot at the golden ball appears to have gone.

“Obviously probably deserves one,” Owen repeated. But in football, as in life, deserving and receiving are not always the same.