Sadio Mane returns to Ballon d’Or list after three-year absence

Home Home Latest News Latest News World Footaball World Footaball Ghana Players Abroad Ghana Players Abroad Ghana Premier League Ghana Premier League National Teams National Teams Videos Videos Black Stars Black Stars Transfer News & Rumours Transfer News & Rumours Kotoko Kotoko Hearts Of Oak Hearts Of Oak Sadio Mane returns to Ballon d’Or list after three-year absence 26 October 2026 Share this with Email Share this with Facebook Share this with Twitter Share this with Whatsapp Sadio Mane has been named among the 30 Ballon d’Or candidates for 2026, returning to the shortlist after three editions away. The Al-Nassr forward finished second in 2022, the best result by an African player since George Weah became the continent’s only winner in 1995.

Mane’s record at the awards began with a 23rd-place finish in 2017. He moved up to 22nd in 2018 before reaching fourth in 2019, an outcome that prompted considerable debate. The Ballon d’Or was not awarded in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, while Mane was not nominated in 2021, 2023, 2024 or 2025.

In 2017, Mane was recognised after scoring 14 goals in 32 matches for Liverpool during the calendar year. Cristiano Ronaldo won the award, while Mane finished ahead of team-mate Philippe Coutinho, who was joint 29th. It was already a significant result for Senegalese football.

Mane climbed one place in 2018, when Luka Modric claimed the trophy. The Senegal international had scored 20 goals in all competitions during Liverpool’s 2017-18 campaign, which ended with the club as Champions League runners-up. He remained some way behind Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah, who finished sixth.

His highest individual season at Liverpool brought a fourth-place finish in 2019. Mane was ranked behind Lionel Messi, Virgil van Dijk and Cristiano Ronaldo, but above Salah, who was fifth. He scored 22 Premier League goals in 2018-19 and shared the Golden Boot with Salah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Mane had also helped Liverpool win the Champions League and reached the Africa Cup of Nations final with Senegal. Some believed those achievements should have placed him in the top three, and his ranking became the subject of controversy, particularly over the perceived lack of support from African voters.

The award was cancelled in 2020 despite Liverpool winning the Premier League, with France Football citing the disruption caused by the pandemic. Mane was then omitted from the 2021 nominations, when Messi won ahead of Robert Lewandowski and Jorginho.

Mane finished behind Karim Benzema in 2022, securing the highest Ballon d’Or position by an African player since Weah’s victory in 1995.

The award followed a standout year. Mane won the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal in February, scoring the decisive penalty in the final against Egypt, before lifting the FA Cup and League Cup with Liverpool. He scored 23 goals in 51 matches in all competitions during the 2021-22 season, while Liverpool reached the Champions League final and finished second in the Premier League.

His move to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2022 and a difficult start in Germany did not prevent him being rewarded for that period. He also won the inaugural Socrates Award for his social and charitable work in Senegal.

After one season at Bayern Munich, followed by his move to Al-Nassr, Mane was absent from the 2023 shortlist. He had also missed the 2022 World Cup through injury, while Messi won that year’s Ballon d’Or.

Rodri won in 2024, when Mane again failed to make the nominations. In 2025, he remained outside the list, with Ousmane Dembele taking the prize.

Mane now returns after three consecutive absences. He is recognised as the MVP of the Africa Cup of Nations, which Senegal won on the pitch before being stripped of the title by CAF. At 34, however, the Al-Nassr forward is not considered among the leading favourites for the 2026 award.