Hazard: “Mane, Salah or Van Dijk deserve Ballon d’Or”

The Real Madrid star believes the trophy should return to Anfield after the Reds’ Champions League success this year

Eden Hazard has backed one of Liverpool trio Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah or Virgil van Dijk to win this year’s Ballon d’Or.

The Reds stars are contenders to be named the world’s best player in 2019 after winning the Champions League and finishing second in the Premier League.

However, they face competition from five-time winners Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, while Manchester City stars Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling are also in the running.

But Real Madrid attacker Hazard believes the award should be given to one of Jurgen Klopp’s charges, highlighting Mane for his displays for Africa Cup of Nations finalists Senegal.

“I’ll give it to a Liverpool player,” he told Le Parisien. “Mane, Salah or Van Dijk deserve it.

“If Sadio had won the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, there would have been no debate.

“It would be nice if he had it. Or Momo, who is a friend of mine. It would be good for African football and for English football.”

Ex-Chelsea star Hazard has long been seen as a potential Ballon d’Or winner and is among the 30 nominees for this year’s edition, the winner of which will be announced on December 2.

The award has never been won by a Belgian before and, while the 28-year-old hopes to become the first, it is not his biggest goal.