Manchester United midfielder Casemiro snubbed Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele as he named a Premier League player as his pick to win the Ballon d'Or. The Brazilian knows a thing or two about what it takes to win the top individual award available in the beautiful game, having played alongside three stars who would claim the prize in Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema.
For most, Dembele and Yamal are this year’s frontrunners after their stellar campaigns for PSG and Barcelona respectively. However, with the ceremony a little over a month away, Casemiro has thrown another name into the equation that may not go down well with Red Devils supporters.
Casmeiro Reveals His Ballon d'Or Winner
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Speaking in an interview with GQ, the ball-winner revealed that he thought Liverpool's Mohamed Salah was the worthy winner of the Ballon d'Or, likely to the behest of all Manchester United fans around the world. The veteran claimed that the overall balance of Salah's campaign was the reason why he should sit at the top of the tree above the likes of Dembele and Yamal.
"For me, it's very difficult. But in my opinion, at this moment for me, Salah. He's the best player with his impact in the game. He scores so much, assists so much. I think Liverpool don't win another trophy, for example the Champions League, because he dropped off a little in the second part of the season. But for me, the most balanced in the season is Salah."
Salah’s influence at Liverpool continues to be undeniable, with 56 goal involvements in just 51 appearances across all competitions — a staggering output that reflects the consistency he’s maintained since arriving at Anfield. Even as he enters the twilight of his career and adjusts to working under a new manager for the first time in his Liverpool tenure, the Egyptian forward remains among the elite in the Premier League.
With individual accolades increasingly driven by numbers and measurable impact, Salah's case for the 2025 Ballon d'Or is a compelling one — especially given Liverpool’s title-winning campaign under Arne Slot in his debut season at the helm.