Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira has spoken of his unhappiness at Sadio Mane only finishing fourth in the 2019 Ballon d’Or vote.
The Liverpool superstar has enjoyed a memorable 12 months, often proving to be the Reds’ attacking talisman.
He helped Jurgen Klopp’s side win last season’s Champions League and is the current favourite to win the PFA Player of the Year award at the end of the current campaign.
Mane finished behind Lionel Messi, Virgil van Dijk and Cristiano Ronaldo in the Ballon d’Or stakes last month, with the former taking home the prestigious prize for a record sixth time.
Someone who isn’t amused by how things panned out is Vieira, who told RFI, via Goal, that the Senegalese forward was robbed:
I find it unfair. I find it unfair compared to what he did, compared to the number of games he played, compared to the number of times he was decisive.
Considering the involvement he had had in goals, and importantly the way he behaved on the field, I think he deserved much more than fourth place.
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While it is hard to argue with Messi and Van Dijk being the winner and runner-up respectively, Mane deserved to finish higher than Ronaldo.
He was undoubtedly a greater influence on Liverpool than the Portuguese legend was for Juventus.
It is unlikely to affect Mane, who cares far more about the team than individual accolades, but it is nice to see someone of Vieira’s standing being so vocal about his brilliance.
