Yaya Toure says Sadio Mane deserved to win the 2019 Ballon d’Or

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Former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure believes Liverpool superstar Sadio Mane deserved to win this year’s Ballon d’Or.

The Etihad legend questioned the voting of the 2019 award, which saw the Senegal sensation finish in fourth place, behind Cristiano Ronaldo, Virgil van Dijk and winner Lionel Messi.

According to Toure, Mane deserved the recognition. He told reporters in Doha ahead of the CWC final (Goal): “To be honest he deserved to win the Ballon d’Or. In Africa we don’t see any better players than him.

“Did you see the votes, did you see what he did in the last year, how many goals he scored, what he achieved with Liverpool?

“For me it is a shame when a team wins this trophy [the Champions League] and the winner of the Ballon d’Or is not coming from there.”

Mane – who scored 26 in all competitions for the Reds in 2019 – finished 339 votes behind Messi, and 100 behind third-placed Ronaldo, which is something a lot of people have questioned.

Many have argued Mane deserved a place on the podium at least, with Ronaldo having had a testing first year in Italy with Juventus.

TBR’s view – 2020 calling?

Messi actually voted for Mane to win the 2019 award, which perhaps speaks volumes.

Maybe the 27-year-old will be set to fight it out with the Argentine for the 2020 award.

Mane has now realised his true potential at Anfield, and is set to come into his prime years at the club, and he has every chance of scooping football’s greatest individual prize.

If Luka Modric can win one, surely Mane will be encouraged.