Liverpool star should be fuming at Ballon d'Or snub - and it isn't Mohamed Salah or Virgil van Dijk

The Ballon d’Or will always be a divisive subject among football fans, and right now countless Liverpool fans looking at the list of this year’s nominees in disbelief.

The Reds’ season might have faded away somewhat towards the end of the 2023/24 campaign, but many expected an upturn in fortunes from the previous season might have resulted in some recognition for football’s biggest individual prize. After all, Mohamed Salah scored a nomination for the 2023 awards despite what was a season to forget for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

The early signs weren’t too promising as the shortlists were announced. There was no representation in the U21, goalkeeper of coach’s awards – not even a mention for Klopp after his final year at Anfield.

• Ballon d'Or 'has lost all credibility' with Liverpool shortlist decision
• Who is Rio Ngumoha? Liverpool wonderkid, 16, poses with jersey after transfer from Chelsea

But surely one of the Reds would get a nod for the main prize? As the names were released in painfully slow fashion though, the ire grew and grew as it became clear there would be no Liverpool representation.

Thoughts turned to the Reds’ two biggest names, Salah and Virgil van Dijk, as supporters meticulously went through the list and found names that raised an eyebrow or two. When the likes of Mats Hummels and Artem Dovbyk are getting nominated but Salah and Van Dijk aren’t, you can’t help but feel like they have a point.

But they aren’t the Liverpool players who should be feeling most hard done by with France Football’s snub of the Reds. After all, Salah’s season was interrupted by injury, while Van Dijk couldn’t quite lead the Netherlands to victory at Euro 2024 which might have secured him his nomination.

There is one Liverpool star though whose stock has only grown over the past 12 months, and with yet another international trophy to add to his collection during the summer, his absence on the shortlist is more than a little baffling.

Alexis Mac Allister enjoyed a superb first season at Anfield. Sure, it might not have been spectacular, but he certainly emerged as one of the standouts as the Reds claimed the Carabao Cup, and secured their return to the Champions League – in fact, he came third behind Salah and Van Dijk in the club’s Player of the Season awards, which is no mean feat, and you could certainly make a compelling case for him finishing higher than Salah.

On top of that, he once again starred for Argentina as they won the Copa America, adding to his World Cup winner’s medal from two years ago. Emi Martinez was recognized for his contribution in that victory, so why not Mac Allister?

It’s not like the Ballon d’Or just takes performances into account – if it did, you could certainly argue that Lionel Messi wouldn’t have won the award last year. Mac Allister has been one of his country’s top performers for a long time now though, and combined with his displays for Liverpool, that should have been enough for him to earn a place on the list.

Of course he wouldn’t have had a shot at the big prize next month, and nor would Salah or Van Dijk. Mac Allister though has every right to feel a bit peeved with his exclusion.