Mohamed Salah has had perhaps his best season since coming to Liverpool, which has led to Ballon d'Or speculation throughout the Premier League title-winning campaign.

That talk has faded in recent weeks and months, but Barcelona's exit from the Champions League might just have placed him on a more even keel with some of his main rivals.

It is tricky for Salah, who in a big-picture sense clearly deserves to have won the Ballon d'Or.



Alisson's heroics were not quite enough, and the single most important element in a Ballon d'Or campagin slipped away from Salah.

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An FA Cup exit and defeat in the League Cup final ensured that Salah would finish the season with only one trophy, albeit a big one.

And even his personal numbers have slowly started to tail off, although he will still end on record-breaking figures.

However, while winning the Champions League is always a good start for Ballon d'Or recognition, it is not strictly a requirement.

Lautaro Martinez has been prolific in the Champions League, but Salah has more goals than the Argentine has goals and assists combined in all competitions.

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Even if the Gunners were to win the Champions League, there are no standout Ballon d'Or candidates.

Would it be Declan Rice