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Ibrahima Konate has made a Ballon d’Or claim that Liverpool fans won’t like.

The Liverpool defender played a crucial role in Arne Slot’s Premier League-winning side this season.

He made 42 appearances for the Reds this season, and was the second most used center back among Liverpool center backs.

His teammate Mohamed Salah, was another astounding member of the team that won the Premier League, finished top of the UEFA Champions League table, and got to the final of the Carabao Cup.

The Egyptian claimed the Premier League Golden Boot and Playmaker awards and was named Footballer of the Year after scoring 34 goals and providing 23 assists in 52 appearances in all competitions.

However, Konate has declared that his French compatriot Ousmane Dembele should win the Ballon d’Or ahead of Salah.

Dembele scored 33 goals and 15 assists as Paris Saint-Germain won the treble of French league and cup along with the Champions League, having eliminated Liverpool on penalties in the round of 16.

The PSG forward and Salah are among the favourites for the Ballon d’Or along with Barcelona duo Raphinha and Lamine Yamal.

Konate will face Yamal’s Spain side in the UEFA Nations League on Thursday evening.

Ahead of that meeting, the Liverpool defender was asked whether the game will be a decisive match towards determining the Ballon d’Or winner, and he made it clear who he is supporting.

““We talk about Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe… But no one talks about Ousmane Dembele”, Konate said in a press conference on Wednesday.

“We must highlight Yamal’s talent, I don’t even know if Messi did that at his age, but we mustn’t say it’s going to be decided on Thursday!

“He (Dembele) has delivered an exceptional season.

In all honesty, the most deserving Ballon d’Or winner is Ousmane Dembele.”

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