The world of football is about to be unsettled, as there is now a high possibility of another player winning the most prestigious individual award "Ballon d'Or" apart from Ronaldo and Messi. The duo has dominated the space for the past decade and has shared the glory equally. Both Messi and Ronaldo have won the award Five Times each for the past ten years, and trust me, many people have been waiting to see who will break the jinx. The last time a player that isn't Messi or Ronaldo won the award was way back in 2007, and that is The Brazilian "Kaka."

Lots of media dust have been raised after FIFA shortlisted the final Three Men List for the 2018 Ballon d'Or award, with Ronaldo, Modric and Salah making the list. Not so many believe the Egyptian Superstar deserve to be there, especially after Liverpool failed to win any trophy last season, and also his not too awesome display at the Russia 2018 World Cup, as Egypt was shown the back door at the early stages of the Competition.

However, the Egyptian has continued to prove his mettle for both Liverpool and Egypt, by leading the attack of both teams to numerous victories. No one would have predicted two years ago that Mohammed Salah would rise to be a possible contender for the award alongside Messi and Ronaldo, especially after his bad days in Chelsea. The blues might have exiled him to Liverpool, but he has managed to transform himself to a leading force in European Football in such a short while. The World is full of surprises.

Salah's Rise To The Pinnacle.

Last season remains the best season the Egyptian has had in his football career, and he wouldn't forget the season that brought him to limelight in years to come. He has established himself as a king in Anfield, he has won their love and administration over the season. In Egypt, He is seen as a god in human form, some of the fans will be glad to be his worshippers if he so demanded. What other figure or status can a possible World Best Player acquire? Because for now, Salah is up there on the ladder.

The race for the award started taking a rather different shape after Mohammed Salah's stunning performance in the UEFA Champions League. With his brace against Roma taking him to 43 goals for the season, Salah became the outright top scorer in Europe with his fellow Ballon d'Or contenders Ronaldo and Messi on 41 and 35 respectively. This was the moments when the tables started turning around, and the Egyptian knew he had to sustain the tempo and keep the media sniffing around him by scoring more goals. The opportunity came knocking, and the left-footed goal Poacher took it.

The Egyptian captain has gone ahead to win some top awards both in England and Africa. He had won the golden boot with Liverpool last season, he is currently the Best Player In Africa and so many other individual recognition. And am still surprise why many don't consider him worthy of the crown.

Salah Continues To Wreak Havoc.

After he sustained a shoulder Injury in the Champions League Final against Real Madrid, an injury that almost made him miss the Russia 2018 World Cup, not so many would have expected him to continue in fine form in the new season. However, the dawn is here, and the Egyptian star boy doesn't seem like he is gonna stop scoring soon.

With the international break on, players have gone home to perform some national duties, and of course, all eyes are on the three Men shortlisted for the Ballon d'Or award.

It was rather a training session for the Pharaohs. Egypt went ahead to claim their first win in Group J of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, as they pummeled Niger 6-0 at the Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria on Saturday night. The outcome of the match sees the Pharaohs move to second place on the log on three points, while the Menas drop to fourth on one point.

Javier Aguirre Handed His First Win As Egypt's New Coach.

It was Egypt's first game under their new manager Javier Aguirre, as he took over the mantle from Hector Cuper who couldn't help Egypt cross the red sea of the group stage.

The new boss will consider himself indeed lucky to run into the job in the good days of Salah, and he is already enjoying the spoils from his ever scoring boots. Nothing makes a manager happier than winning his first game in office, and it goes a long way to boost his ego and confidence.

Some say losing a first match could have the same effect as losing a final. Well, for me, I don't think so. There is always room for improvements after a first match, but final? Nah, once the final whistle goes, it's over. Last season, Real Madrid started their campaign on a shaky footing, but later went all the way to win the UEFA Champions League for the third consecutive time. Congrats to the new coach.

The Stubborn Keeper Humbled(AFCON qualifiers).

It didn't take Egypt long to show that they are not of the same class as their opponent, though Salah had missed his early opportunity to score a penalty. They were on top from the early minutes and had a penalty within the first 60 seconds after kick-off, with Mohamed Salah fouled in the box. The Liverpool forward took the spot kick himself but was denied by the Niger goalkeeper Kassaly Daouda.

Despite Daouda's stubborn and impressive goalkeeping, his competent best was not just good enough to keep a FIFA world Best Contender from scoring. Salah got a brace and two assists in the game, so when you see him being worshipped in his country, don't ask why.

Actions will return to the shores of Africa when the teams meet again to continue their 2019 Afcon qualifying action next month, with Egypt facing Swaziland in a double-header and Niger twice battling another North African giant in the shape of Tunisia.

He Deserves The Iron Throne?

While many believe that Luka Modrić deserves to win the award considering his sterling performance in the Champions League and World Cup, many others are also pitching their tent with the Egyptian talisman, Mohammed Salah!

"When people talk about Ronaldo and Messi they should also talk about Salah. He deserves it, he deserves to be mentioned for the Ballon d’Or. At the start of the season, I didn’t know he could do this, but you see how he is working, how he wants the ball, he is just a different player to what he was." Says the Liverpool defender Dejan Loveren.

However, am pretty sure it's gonna take more than just goals to win the votes of players, managers and prominent journalists from around the world. Indeed, Ronaldo scored an incredible 61 goals in the 2014-15 season and still missed out to Messi, who had a slightly inferior 58.

Also, the records are there to tell us that winning the Champions League is of the utmost importance when it comes to deciding who lifts the Ballon d'Or.

From my observation, Eight of the last 11 Golden Ball winners had also inspired their teams to Champions League titles in the same year. Liverpool hasn't gotten any, will Salah survive this?

All hope is not lost for the Egyptian as there are still exceptions to that record. In 2010 Messi scored 60 goals and won La Liga; 2012, when the Argentine scored an incredible 91 goals in the calendar year; and 2013, when Ronaldo scored 67 goals and his rival suffered injury problems.

I wish Liverpool had lifted at least one trophy, it would have put Salah on a higher advantage. Be that as it may, football is full of surprises, because as it stands now, anyone can win the award.

Do You Think Salah Stands A Chance?

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Authored by idunique