Football

Arsene Wenger: Ex-Arsenal boss tips Liverpool's Sadio Mane for Ballon D'or glory

Wednesday, October 23, 2019 at 5:09 PM by Rahaman Abiola

- Arsene Wenger has tipped Sadio Mane for the 2019 Ballon D'or award glory

- The Senegalese forward was instrumental to Liverpool's breakthrough in Champions League

- The former Arsenal manager believes the Liverpool talisman deserves the award for his 'outstanding character'

Liverpool forward, Sadio Mane, has been tipped for the Ballon D'or 2019 award glory ahead of teammate Vigil van Dijk, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo by Arsenal's former manager Arsenal Wenger.

Mane was an instrumental figure to Liverpool's breakthrough as European champions and was named in the 30-man list containing other big names including Kylian Mbappe and Roberto Firmino.

Ahead of the event to be held in France, the veteran manager has lent his voice on who he wants to clinch the award, with the former Arsenal boss rooting for the Senegalese star.

"Mane was the outstanding character," he told beIN SPORTS.

"I would say – because he is a fighter… and efficient. He's not scared of anybody. At the moment, he deserves huge credit."

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Mane, who helped his country win AFCON 2019 runner-up medal, is one of the five African players in the list with Mohamed Salah, Kalidou Koulibaly, Riyad Mahrez and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also spearheading the 30-man list.

The only African to win the award is President George Weah of Liberia who clinched the coveted trophy following a blistering performance through the calendar year of 1995.

Meanwhile, Lionel Messi, Ronaldo and van Dijk still remain the leading favourities to take home the award.

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Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Chelsea legend Didier Drogba has revealed two players he will be supporting to emerge victorious in this year’s Ballon d’Or.

The 30-man shortlist for the 2019 Ballon d'Or 2019 was unveiled on Monday, October 21, by France Football and the winner will be made public on December 2.