Sadio Mane hopes winning the Champions League on Saturday can boost his chances of becoming the first African player since George Weah in 1995 to win the Ballon D’Or.
Mane has enjoyed a superb season at both club and international level, helping Liverpool to win both domestic cups, finish runners-up in the Premier League and reach the final of Europe’s biggest club competition as well as being Senegal’s star man as they won the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time and reached the World Cup finals.
And if the 30-year-old forward – who was voted player of the tournament at Afcon – can finish the campaign on a high by helping Liverpool to beat Real Madrid in Paris, it could tip the balance in his favour when the votes are cast for the game’s top individual prize later this year.
Mane believes African players have often been overlooked because the Africa Cup of Nations tournament has been undervalued compared to the European Championship and Copa America.
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“It’s true,” he said. “If you guys say it, what can I say myself? It is sad. The Africa Cup of Nations is the biggest trophy I have won in my life, and for an African player not to have won the Ballon d’Or since George Weah it is sad, for sure.
“I would say it’s been one of my best seasons – so far – because I won one of the most important things in my life, which is the Africa Cup. It gives me even more motivation to go on for the next step like the Champions League.
“Myself and all the Liverpool players had targets from the beginning of the season which was to go for all the trophies. So far we have won two, and missed one [the Premier League] , which is behind us now, and Manchester City fully deserved it.
“To win the Champions League would be special for me and for all the other boys. We will do everything we can to win it and then we will see what happens with the Ballon D’Or. It would be even more special for me to have the bonus of the Ballon d’Or. I would be the most happy player in the world.”
Mane has endured a huge workload for club and country this season and Saturday’s final will be his 60th game, including nine for Senegal, while he has chipped in with 26 goals for club and country.
But he insists chasing trophies has been a great energiser. And he has told Jurgen Klopp he doesn’t mind if he plays in his normal position, off the left flank, or through the middle, where he has been used on occasions following the arrival of Luis Diaz in January.
“Honestly, I’m really enjoying every single moment, he said. “I love what I am doing and I sacrifice myself all the time: I am working hard every single day on the pitch and in the gym and I get better and better, that’s the most important thing. I am trying my best to help the team.
“Since day one I spoke with the coach and I said ‘I don’t mind what position I play’. I’m happy to help the team. I think football is about joy – so just enjoy the moment.
“Two finals is something but you have to dream big and I am a player who dreams big. Winning the Champions League would make the season even more special and we have the squad to do it. We are relaxed. No pressure at all. I think it is a dream moment for us. Let’s enjoy it without making pressure because it doesn’t help.
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“You can see everyone has a smiling face and everyone is fully confident, which I think is amazing. We play one of the best teams in the world but that makes it more special.”
Shoot-outs have played a significant part in Mane’s season. He scored the winning penalty for Senegal in both their Afcon and World Cup play-off shoot-outs against team-mate Mo Salah’s Egpyt.
He didn’t take one in the Carabao Cup final shoot out with Chelsea because he had already been substituted, while in the FA Cup final decider his effort was saved by Senegal team-mate Edouard Mendy – though it didn’t prove costly in the end.
Mane will be happy to step forward again if the call comes in Paris.
“We are fully prepared for penalties if it happens but we would love to win it in 90 minutes,” he added.
“There is a long story with me and penalties but I never give up. I will score the decisive penalty again.”
Interest from Bayern Munich and Real Madrid have raised question marks whether Mane, who has a year left on his current deal, will stay at Anfield. But he has promised to give a definitive answer on his future after the final – when he hopes to be wearing a Champions League winners’ medal around his neck.
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