Liverpool has long been home to world-class talent, and the 2025 Ballon d’Or nominations showed that the outside world agrees.
With multiple players ranked and receiving nominations, the Reds’ contributions last season were impossible to ignore.
But for all the recognition, there’s a lingering sense that Liverpool’s players should have walked away with more than just nominations.
Here’s a breakdown of where their names landed, and why they should had achieve higher.
Mohamed Salah: Ballon d'Or - 4th
Salah finishing fourth was a statement, but it also felt like an injustice.
At 32 last year, when people believed he shouldn’t be in the conversation given his out-of-prime putout, Salah made another statement for being among the globe’s best.
Last season, he topped the Premier League scoring charts with 29 goals in 38 appearances and added 18 assists — a tally of 47 goal involvements, the highest ever by a player in a 38-game Premier League season (shared the record with Alan Shearer and Andrew Cole).
Leading Liverpool to the championship last season, Salah’s consistent output, clutch moments, and ability to drag Liverpool through massive fixtures should have had him in serious contention for first.
Alongside Dortmund's Serhou Guirassy (21st), who represents Guinea, Salah was one of only two African players nominated this year, drawing comparisons once again to George Weah, the only African to win the Ballon d’Or back in 1995. For all that, finishing outside the podium felt harsh.
Alexis Mac Allister: Ballon d'Or - 22nd
Mac Allister’s ranking undersells his importance.
He quietly became one of Liverpool’s unsung heroes throughout the title run last year. Playing mostly in midfield, he contributed decisively with both goals and assists (seven each in all competitions) from the No. 10 role after joining Liverpool.
Last season, the Argentine international scored five goals and produced five assists. His positional shift and ability to link play while also helping defensively gave manager Arne Slot a versatility he could rely upon — a trait that doesn’t always get massive headlines, but clearly earned supporters and peers alike this ranking.
The statsheet doesn’t tell the full story of how often he dictated rhythm or carried Liverpool throughout the season. He deserved a higher place because of the direct impact he had on Liverpool’s title run.
Virgil van Dijk: Ballon d'Or - 28th
The Ballon d’Or was where van Dijk became renowned in the football world. As we saw him appearing under the spotlight in France on Monday, memories flashed through people’s minds, reminiscing about his prime when he sat at the front near Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2019 Ballon d’Or edition.
Currently at 34, Van Dijk continues to defy the notion that defenders fade into irrelevance as years go by.
In 2024-25, he played in nearly every match, kept 14 Premier League clean sheets, and was among the most reliable defensive figures in the division.
Beyond his defensive numbers, his leadership on and off the pitch, anchoring the backline and stepping up in big matches, largely contributed to Liverpool’s title success.
To place him only 28th undervalues not just his stats but his presence. A defender who remains world-class this late into his career deserved recognition closer to the top 15.
Florian Wirtz: Ballon d'Or - 29th
Wirtz’s nomination owes much to his Bayer Leverkusen heroics, but his quality makes Liverpool’s investment look wise.
Though Wirtz’s ranking owes much to his success at Bayer Leverkusen, it still reflects why Liverpool invested heavily in him.
He played a central role in Leverkusen’s Bundesliga and European performances before arriving at Anfield, tallying 10 goals and 12 assists in the 2024-25 season with a dangerous 9.99 xG.
His goals and assists there showed vision, composure, and an ability to make decisive contributions — all skills that Liverpool hopes will translate quickly at Anfield.
Allison Becker: 2nd in Yashin Award
The biggest snub of the night might have been Alisson Becker missing out on the Yashin Trophy. The Brazilian finished runner-up despite a season that many considered his best at Anfield.
Time and again, he bailed Liverpool out with reflex saves and commanding box presence, recording 17 clean sheets in all competitions.
While other keepers received accolades for flashy moments, Alisson’s week-to-week consistency and ability to thrive under pressure arguably made him the world’s best.
His second-place finish felt like another case of Liverpool's brilliance being overlooked.
Arne Slot: Coach of the Year Nominee
The same could be said for Arne Slot, whose nomination for Coach of the Year didn’t translate into the silverware it deserved.
PSG’s Champions League triumph stole the spotlight, but Slot’s revolution at Anfield was more than just worth noticing.
Taking over from Jürgen Klopp, Slot not only kept Liverpool stable, but he also reinvented them. In just his first year, he won over Kopites’ hearts by respecting Klopp’s foundations while bravely flipping the tactical blueprint.
With minimal signings last summer, Slot trusted his inherited squad, instilled discipline, and still guided Liverpool to a title.
That blend of innovation, dignity, and resilience was a managerial masterclass that deserved more than a nomination.
Final Word
Though Liverpool walked away without winning any awards in Paris, their performances in 2024-25 spoke louder than the rankings.
Salah’s historic production, Mac Allister’s influence, van Dijk’s resilience, Wirtz’s emergence, Alisson’s world-class goalkeeping, and Slot’s managerial brilliance all made Liverpool’s case clear: this was a season where their people deserved more than recognition.