‘Give Mane Ballon d’Or already’ – Liverpool star sparks debate after Villarreal display
Fans across the world have been left impressed with the performance of Liverpool star Sadio Mane after he scored in the 3-2 Champions League comeback victory against Villarreal on Tuesday.
After the Reds went down to two first-half goals courtesy of Senegal international Boulaye Dia and Francis Coquelin, they recovered in the second period to score through Fabinho, Luis Diaz, and Mane, and silence the crowd in the semi-final return leg contest at Estadio de la Ceramica.
The win saw Liverpool reach the final after a 5-2 aggregate win and will face the winner between Real Madrid and Manchester City, who face off in another semi-final second leg on Wednesday.
In scoring against the Yellow Submarine, the 30-year-old Mane shattered Didier Drogba’s record to become Africa’s highest goalscorer in the Champions League knockout stage.
He has managed 15 goals, one more than Chelsea legend Drogba, while Egypt international Mohamed Salah has 11 goals, and former Cameroon captain Samuel Eto’o has 10.
His latest display has sparked debate on social media, with most fans backing the former Southampton player to win the Ballon d’Or at the end of the season.
Below is how the fans reacted on Twitter.
Just give him his Ballon d'or already, he has proven himself time and again he is the best. Sadio Mané#Ucl#Paris2022 pic.twitter.com/qNFuyFlnrw
— Lunga Q 🇿🇦 (@Sir_Que23) May 4, 2022
Sadio mane for BALLON D’ OR that’s the tweet ‼️‼️‼️‼️ pic.twitter.com/PVSmXS2jss
— FEZCO (@FEZCO_99) May 3, 2022
Sadio manè deserve the 2022 ballon d Or - as much as I love Ronaldo and Messi he deserves it pic.twitter.com/lYXfd8PyU8
— Dr STAN (@Bigstan14712) May 4, 2022
Give Sadio Mane his Ballon Dor
— Bheki Ndlovu (@KingbNdlovu) May 4, 2022
Liverpool #YNWA #ChampionsLeague #UCL pic.twitter.com/KRVvy60Esd
Someone should give this man his Ballon D'or already. Sadio Mane#VILLIV #UCL pic.twitter.com/guaSqOznSH
— BIG_CHIEF (@Ismailbwayo) May 3, 2022
Another set of fans have opined only Karim Benzema of Spanish champions Real Madrid stands in the way of Mane winning the award while others feel he can only achieve the feat if Liverpool are crowned Champions League winners.
◉ AFCON
— OG obaro gift💧 (@OGprolific) May 3, 2022
◉ League Cup
◉ FA Cup
◉ #UCL
◉ @EPL loading…96%
Sadio Mané has qualified for his fourth final of 2022. pic.twitter.com/HrOk1WAw0R
There's one man who can stop Benzema winning the Ballon d'Or...#OGprolificSpace pic.twitter.com/Q4NHx6qHmO
Sadio Mane for B'Dor.
— Pique (@Pique_Mega) May 4, 2022
Benzema doesn't come close.
Give him the Balan D'or already 🔥
— lil-Syd🎱 (@HajjiSyd) May 4, 2022
Balan D'or rankings this year
Sadio Mane 🥇
Karim Benzema 🥈
Mo Salah 🥉
Prove me otherwise pic.twitter.com/u80MAvzKrO
Sadio Mane is reli having a good season and deserves dis year Ballon D’or🔴🔴Dont reli noe y many Liverpool fans are mute on dis one🤦🏿if it was Salah hving this kind of season u will see Liverpool fans pushing that Ballon D’or Agenda🤦🏿#ChampionsLeague #VILLIV pic.twitter.com/8BdNfo19r0
— Webby god (@SonMaame) May 3, 2022
Sadio Mané Will win the ballon d'or if Liverpool wins the #UCL pic.twitter.com/kbx1Q9lqme
— GHKOBBY1 🇬🇭🇬🇭 (@Ghkobby11) May 3, 2022
If Liverpool wins the Quadruple, Treble or Double that includes the UCL, Mane will SURELY win the Ballon D’or and FIFA’s The Best right??
— Man of Letters. (@Letter_to_Jack) May 3, 2022
Sadio Mane is the best player in the world …I don’t understand why his name is not being talked about in that popularity award called Ballon d’Or pic.twitter.com/WRc2nEEuXn
— Simon_Pela (@Simon_Pela) May 3, 2022
After surpassing Drogba's record, fans have also praised the Lion of Teranga for reaching the new landmark.
Mane making history.
— LIVERPOOL FC NIGERIA (@LFC_9jaa) May 3, 2022
The outright top African goalscorer in the #UCL knockout stages 🤩 pic.twitter.com/CAXAc2xBQT
Sadio Mane now holds the record of the African with the most Champions League knockout stages goals(15) surpassing Didier Drogba(14). pic.twitter.com/bToIMW5pbv
— Thierry Nyann (@nyannthierry) May 3, 2022
Sadio Mané has the highest goal scored by an African player in Champions league knockout stages (15) than any African player in the competition's history, breaking Didier Drogba's record.
— Mayor of Lagos.... (@MayowaOlubunmi) May 3, 2022
#VILLIV pic.twitter.com/SAgQiEuH7Y
Sadio Mané is officially the highest African goalscorer in the Champions League knock-out stages:
— Clarisse Uwimana (@uwimaclarisse) May 3, 2022
🇸🇳 Sadio Mané: 15
🇨🇮 Didier Drogba: 14#UCL pic.twitter.com/Yofk2FjuPi
Meanwhile, another set of fans have praised Mane and Salah for making Africa proud.
I Love Jurgen Klopp he gave Africa a chance to shine.Mane/Salah beating the world! pic.twitter.com/uguhifnPTZ
— Umfana we Huawei (@kgmaduke) May 3, 2022
@LFC Top African Goalscore in #UCL Best current African #Mane🙌🙌🤘 pic.twitter.com/pnHzueISko
— @Uzagende kugataro 🇷🇼 (@KevinSonga3) May 3, 2022
Sadio Mane is goated
— MBAH (@Mbahdeyforyou) May 3, 2022
Sadio Mane is making Africa proud I swear!
— MSWAKI (@itsPinocchiooo) May 3, 2022
Do you agree Mane has done enough to deserve Ballon d’Or? Let us hear your thoughts in the comment box below.