While Mohamed Salah ignites the grounds with Liverpool, an unexpected controversy splashed his golden ball. It all started with a fiery debate on Sky Sports, where an English legend has thrown a pavement in the pond, reviving a cultural fracture of world football.
Carragher creates the storm: the CAN, a “non-tournament” for the Ballon d'Or?
Sunday evening, after Liverpool's victory against Manchester City, Jamie Carragher, star consultant, dared the unthinkable. While the discussion revolved around Salah's chances of winning the precious trophy, the former defender dropped: “The problem is that he plays for Egypt … not in a” big “tournament. For the Ballon d'Or, you must shine in the Champions League or in a major competition. »»
Implied? The CAN would not count. A declaration perceived as a contempt for African football.
The scathing replica of the CAN defenders
In the studio, the discomfort is palpable. Daniel Sturridge, former Liverpool, counterattack: “The CAN is a major tournament, in the same way as the Euro or the COPA America! »» Micah Richards abounds: “The Ballon d'Or is a popularity competition … Voters underestimate the CAN. »»
Carragher tries to qualify: “It's a big tournament, but voters do not see it like the World Cup. »» Too late. On the networks, the former Egyptian international Ahmed Elmohamady Riposte: “Carragher does not know the big tournaments: he has never won. »»
Carragher did not make friends on the African continent.
Golden ball: the weight of prejudices
Behind the controversy, a statistical reality: no player won the Ballon d'Or thanks to the CAN. George Weah (1995) or Sadio Mané (2ᵉ in 2022) were rewarded for their club exploits. However, the CAN, organized every two years, is crowned in Africa. Egypt, seven times winner, is proof of this. So why this denial? “” It is a question of media visibility and historical biases ”Goal.com analysis.
Salah, collateral victim?
With 30 goals and 21 passes this season, does Salah deserve to be penalized for his nationality? “If the CAN had as much as the euro, he would have already won the Ballon d'Or”is indignant a fan on X. Meanwhile, the former presenter Richard Keys qualifies Carragher D'”Ignore”, emphasizing the hypocrisy of a system that celebrates the euro but marginalizes Africa.
Football in front of its contradictions
Carragher controversy reveals a deep fracture. While the CAN is dreaming as much as the euro, its influence remains ignored by the authorities. What if Salah, finally lifting this trophy, forced the world to open your eyes? The debate is far from closed.
