Ballon d’Or: Former Chelsea star picks Salah over the Blues midfielder

With a few days left before the winner of this year, Ballon d’Or is unveiled, former Chelsea midfielder, Gustavo Poyet, has made a surprising pick on who he believes deserves to win the prestigious award this year.

Poyet snubbed Jorginho and went on to name Liverpool striker and Egypt international Mohamed Salah as favourites to win the Ballon d’Or this year.

According to Poyet, Salah deserves to win the prestigious award because he is undoubtedly the best currently ahead of Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Paris Saint-Germain duo, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.

Salah was named among the 30-man nominees shortlisted for this year Ballon d’Or and is one of the favourites to win alongside Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski, Jorginho and N’Golo Kante, who have also been tipped to win the award.

“Certainly, you cannot vote for Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo in the Ballon d’Or, perhaps Mbappe or Salah, but the latter certainly is the best,” Poyet told Al-Hayah TV.

“Salah’s influence in matches is better than Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Mbappe, even if he does not score.”

The Egypt international will return ti action this weekend when Liverpool host Arsenal in the EPL.