The UEFA Champions League witnessed a shocking surprise when Real Madrid and Bayern Munich were eliminated in the quarter-finals, despite being favorites to win the title, given that Real Madrid holds the record for most titles. This season's final will be held at the Allianz Arena, home of Bayern Munich.
UEFA Champions League Results
Real Madrid lost to Arsenal 5-1 on aggregate in the quarter-finals, while Bayern lost to Inter Milan 4-3 on aggregate.
The elimination of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals will undoubtedly cast a shadow over the chances of the nominees for the 2025 Ballon d'Or, especially regarding the hopes of Egyptian star Mohamed Salah, the Liverpool winger.
The Ballon d'Or, the world's most prestigious award, is given annually in October to honor the best player over the past 12 months. The vote is based on a panel of 100 journalists from around the world.
The elimination of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals could boost Mohamed Salah's chances of winning the 2025 Ballon d'Or, especially since the Egyptian Pharaoh faced fierce competition from Real Madrid duo Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Junior, as well as Bayern Munich star Harry Kane.
Egyptian star Mohamed Salah's chances of winning the Ballon d'Or have diminished following Liverpool's Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties in the round of 16. According to the English website "givemesport," Salah now sits fourth on the list of nominees for the award, behind Kylian Mbappé and Barcelona's Brazilian Rafinha in second place, and Vinicius Junior in third. However, Real Madrid's exit could help tip the balance.
Mohamed Salah Shines with Liverpool
Mohamed Salah has had a remarkable season, with historic numbers that have qualified him for the Ballon d'Or. He has scored 32 goals in 46 matches across all competitions, 27 of which have come in the Premier League, in addition to providing 23 assists for his teammates.
The Egyptian star currently leads the Premier League's top scorer list with 27 goals, six goals ahead of second-placed Norwegian Erling Haaland, who has 21 goals and is Manchester City's top scorer.
Mohamed Salah shares fifth place in the Premier League's all-time top scorers list with retired Argentine striker Sergio Aguero of Manchester City, with 184 goals. The duo also share the title of the all-time top foreign scorer in the domestic competition.
Mohamed Salah will be on the verge of winning his second Premier League title, as Liverpool currently tops the table with 76 points, 13 points ahead of second-placed Arsenal, with six rounds remaining.