Sam Allardyce believes Vinicius Jr. will secure the Ballon d’Or ahead of Mohamed Salah, citing Real Madrid’s strong presence as a key factor in the decision.

Former Everton manager Sam Allardyce has dismissed Mohamed Salah’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or this year, predicting the award will go to Vinicius Jr. He believes Real Madrid’s absence at last year’s ceremony will influence the decision, as organizers will want to avoid another no-show from the Spanish club.

“Salah has no chance,” Allardyce said. “It’ll go to Vinicius Jr. because of what Real Madrid achieved last year. They’ll be desperate to ensure one of their players wins, or they might not show up again.”

Salah remains in contention after an impressive season, scoring 30 goals and providing 21 assists while helping Liverpool establish an 11-point lead in the Premier League and reach the Champions League round of 16.

However, on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, former Ireland international Andy Townsend disagreed with Allardyce. He praised Salah’s consistency, stating, “Mo Salah has maintained the same physical level for years. His numbers are consistently strong, and he positions himself well for his teammates. He’s a worthy contender.”

Townsend added that Salah’s chances will ultimately depend on Liverpool’s success, saying, “To win the Ballon d’Or, Liverpool will likely need to secure both the Champions League and the Premier League.”