Jermaine Pennant has compared Mohamed Salah with the best right wingers in Europe and he believes there is only one player in the position better than the Liverpool goal machine.
The 2025 Ballon d’Or caused as much outrage as usual, with many supporters left frustrated by the 30-man rankings drawn up by France Football.
It was Ousmanne Dembele who scooped up the award for the first time, after a season which saw him win the Champions League with PSG.
18-year-old Lamine Yamal was ranked just one spot below in second, while Dembele’s club teammate Vininha completed the top three.
Based on his form this season, the 2025 edition of the annual award may have been the final chance Mohamed Salah had to add a Ballon d’Or to his name.
However, Salah finished in fourth place, earning fewer than half of Dembele’s points tally. Despite this, Jermaine Pennant believes the Egyptian is a better player, as he revealed on the Beast Mode Podcast.
The ex-Liverpool forward claimed Salah was better than Yamal as well, although he did hesitate before delivering his bold verdict.
Pennant continued to heap praise on the 33-year-old, who has spent more than eight years of his career at Anfield. He chose Salah over various Premier League wingers, including Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, Bryan Mbeumo and Noni Madueke.
The theme continued, with Desire Doue, Rodrygo and Michael Olise all rated below last season’s Premier League golden boot winner. Salah bagged 29 goals and 18 assists in a campaign which saw Liverpool wrap up the league title.
However, Lionel Messi, the player widely considered as the best in the world, has registered 34 goals and 18 assists in the 2025 MLS season. Staggeringly, he averages more than one goal per game.
Despite Pennant’s enthusiasm for Salah, he had to concede that Messi was the better player, with the 38-year-old continuing to perform at the back end of his career.
Most Liverpool supporters would usually agree with Pennant, that Salah is one of the world’s greatest wingers. However, concerns have been raised about the man who looks a shadow of his former self this season.
It could be that Salah is also in the latter stages of his career and is no longer able to perform at his previous level, but Arne Slot will be hoping the Reds veteran can still deliver for his team.
