It’s fair to say that last season there was an argument to suggest Mohamed Salah was the best player in world football. He was certainly the most in-form.
However, we all know that to truly become the world’s best, you have to do it consistently.
Salah has started the season well again for Liverpool, netting seven goals in 13 Premier League appearances for the club, and could well be en-route to claiming the Golden Boot once again.
But can he every oust the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo from the top of the tree?
There’s no doubt he has the talent to do so and at 26-years-old he’s plenty of time to do it.
He was shortlisted for World Player of the Year this year, which was eventually given to Luka Modric but had Salah won the Champions League, you get the feeling it could have been different.
Silverware with Liverpool is likely to be instrumental in him picking up the awards for certain.
The club is currently among the favorites at 2/1 to win the Premier League with bookmakers like William Hill, and if he keeps scoring they could keep up with top club Manchester City who are 6/4 favorites with the same bookie.
One thing is for sure, he’s every bettor’s dream. Like Messi and Ronaldo, Salah has become a reliable bet in the Goalscorer market, a sure sign of him able to be mentioned in the same breath.
The three in addition to the likes of Mbappe and Kane are always worth an accumulator, particularly when you grab the best acca insurance offers, and he’ll be fighting once again with Harry Kane to be the league’s best finisher.
Salah is currently priced at 11/2 to be the 2018/19 Premier League top goalscorer, with Kane and Aguero ahead with bookmaker Betfred who are offering odds on them beating the Egyptian to it at 21/10 and 3/1 respectively.
He’s not yet had the chance to really prove himself in the highest pressure games. He was brutally relieved of his duty in the Champions League Final by Sergio Ramos, so will be hoping he gets another opportunity on the biggest stage to prove he can deliver.
There’s no doubt he can. He’s a real game changer and over the next few years, that’s only going to be more so.
By the age of 29, the likes of Messi and Ronaldo will have seen their powers dwindle, with the Egyptian likely taking on Neymar and Mbappe for the crown.
To Liverpool he’s currently priceless and if the club can continue to build he’ll only continue to improve. He can flip a game on his head with a single run and create moments of magic that very few others can. We, of course, know this though. What we don’t know is how consistently he can do it for.
That’ll be key in him becoming the world’s best. If he can stay injury free, deliver in key moments for Liverpool and be as free-flowing as he has been since moving to Anfield then the next few seasons really could see him surpass the likes of Messi and give the Reds their first Ballon d’Or winner since Michael Owen in 2001.
