Speaking to L’Équipe du Soir last week when the nominations for Ballon D’Or were announced, Liverpool attacker Sadio Mané admitted that he felt he was still far away from Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo’s level.
“Honestly, as I’ve said, it has always been a childhood dream of mine. The fact that I am listed as one of the nominees is due to the fruits of the work that I’ve been putting in for a long time. This is more of a dream than an obsession, I am at the service of the collective first and foremost. And if I am able to distinguish myself amongst this collective then of course, the Ballon D’Or, has always been my dream. And when a dream comes true, it is always exceptional. All of the Senegalese people, my friends, my family, would be so happy, I would be so happy.”
“I think as I have said it has always been a supplementary source of motivation for me. Eto’o, Drogba, they are legends in Africa and to hear what they are saying about me, it is always nice.”
On Messi and Ronaldo:
These players are monsters. I think that I am still far away from them. As I have said, I am going to do everything I can to come a little closer to them.
On if he’s too modest to win the Ballon D’Or:
I think that I am modest enough. I still want to be at the top. I think I have a certain way of seeing things, living, that makes everyone around me proud. I think yes, I feel good like this, and others feel good like that.
