Salah out to break Messi, Ronaldo's Ballon d'Or stranglehold

by Bertin Basson

Tuesday Oct 09, 2018. 12:00

Mohamed Salah will be among those hoping to break Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's stranglehold on the Ballon d’Or award.

The Egypt international has been nominated alongside 29 other players for the 2018 Ballon d'Or accolade, which is sponsored by French magazine France Football.

The award was previously merged with that of Fifa's for six years, but football's world governing body ended that relationship two years ago with Luka Modric having claimed Fifa's 'The Best Men's Player' accolade this year.

Salah was nominated among the final three for both the ‘UEFA Men’s Player of the Year Award’ and ‘The Best FIFA Men’s Player’, but fell short on both occasions - he will be hoping it's third time lucky.

The Liverpool attacker enjoyed an outstanding first season at Anfield, netting 44 goals in all competitions.

Ronaldo and Messi have dominated the Ballon d’Or over the past decade with either the Portugal or Argentina international having walked away with the prestigious accolade over the past 10 years.