MY ACCOUNT
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has agreed with Mohamed Salah that the Liverpool star is the best player in the world in his position.
Ancelotti’s Madrid face Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool in the Champions League final on May 28 in Paris, with two contenders for the Ballon d’Or lining up against each other in Salah and Karim Benzema.
Salah has been in fine domestic scoring form once again this season, on course for the Premier League’s Golden Boot award with 22 strikes, while he has been directly involved in 35 goals in 34 league games.
The Egypt international, speaking after winning the Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year in England, declared himself as the best forward in the world at present.
“If you compare me with any player in my position, not only in my team but in the world, you will find that I am the best,” he told BeIN SPORTS.
“I always focus on my work and do my best, and my numbers are the best proof of my words.”
Indeed, only five players – Ciro Immobile (156), Kylian Mbappe (167), Cristiano Ronaldo (169), Lionel Messi (174) and Robert Lewandowski (232) – have scored more than Salah (154) since his Liverpool debut in August 2017 across Europe’s top five leagues in all competitions.
Meanwhile, Lewandowski (49), Benzema (44), Mbappe (35), Christopher Nkunku (34) and Immobile (32) are the only players from the same group to outscore Salah (30) this season.
The debate continues over who should win the next Ballon d’Or with Benzema, who could deliver World Cup glory for France in Qatar to aid his cause, and Salah among the front-runners for the personal accolade.
Ancelotti, addressing a pre-match news conference ahead of a LaLiga clash at Cadiz on Sunday, admitted that no player comes close to Salah in his position at the minute.
“Salah has said that in his position he is the best in the world and I think he is right,” Ancelotti told reporters.
“I agree with him. In his position, yes, he is the best in the world.”
