The Senegal star was a Champions League winner and Golden Boot recipient in 2019 and the former Chelsea great has tipped him for the major honour
Didier Drogba has backed Liverpool forward Sadio Mane to beat out tough competition and claim the 2019 Ballon d'Or later this year following an excellent season for club and country.
Speaking to Paris Match, Drogba stated that he felt it could be time for another African player to follow in Weah's footsteps and backed former Southampton star Mane to be the man to do so.
"For the CAN, the Champions League, and the championship," the Ivorian said when asked why the 27-year-old was favourite. "What he does in the Premier League, very few players are able to do it."
Further asked if he felt Mane could succeed Weah, Drogba added: "Yes it is possible, but it would have been possible well before.
"There are many players who have well represented the African continent, like Samuel Eto'o.
"What is a pity is that when we talk about African player, we talk about the continent, we do not speak of a country. We will never say Kylian Mbappe represents the European continent. It is a small shift that is present.
"But to return to the question, it would be really nice [if] Sadio or even Mohamed Salah continue to raise their level of play to hope to win this trophy."
KAVINBASTINDEV
0
no black player from Africa will ever win the balon award after the president of Liberia George weah...
#SAYNOTORACISM
Teweikm
0
bg salute again, from Tanzanian boy 0753307477
Jamanoor88
0
no black player from Africa will ever win the balon award after the president of Liberia George weah...
facts
lanadpsuy
0
not to the organisers
So what you think black player would never will win ballon d'or
Yawtwist
0
r u mocking my best player
not that buh we all know he deserves it buh wont be given to him
Yawtwist
0
black or white all color are equall
not to the organisers
21221975(deleted)
0
who the hell is wandeck??
Vandeyk my please my native language is Uzbek
Himademst
0
Here, Anelli says Ronaldo will get the ball. And here's Drogba Mane. Let's face it, this year there are 3 candidates this year: Messi, Wandeck and Ronaldo. Messi has played better than Ronaldo this year. You can say you didn't win a prize, but a gold ball is an individual prize. That is why Messi should get this year. But journalists, who are voting for the ball, are looking at more statistics than they should have given to Vandeik. Ronaldo and Messi need to make 2 gold balls each year. For them, the golden ball did not matter, as Ronaldo said
[image]
who the hell is wandeck??
lanadpsuy
0
he deserves it buh hey he's not white
black or white all color are equall
Kuzabciktz
1
he deserves it buh hey he's not white
r u mocking my best player
coemst
0
I don't know y they don't want Africans to win that ball etoo, drogba, toure, essien and other played best football at their peak but still they didn't win it so it will be difficult
look at the case of Eto'o didn't he deserve it?
AbdulZaks008
0
dear mane go and bleach and take ballon d or this year if you keep perform
Yawtwist
1
he deserves it buh hey he's not white
momabcdeuy
0
George weah performance was just beyond human, unless these Black players use the strategy of beyond comparison
naelkayyali
3
Mane from 2.5 ml player to 130 ml player in few years and he worth more than that . what a player
Fawilnouy
0
Racism is too much in the game so is hard for and African to win it, because lot's of great African players have try but no way .
mate you're 100% right
Bikcdelpt
0
Africa representing
[image]
to the fullest
fazanopsu
4
Racism is too much in the game so is hard for and African to win it, because lot's of great African players have try but no way .
21221975(deleted)
2
Here, Anelli says Ronaldo will get the ball. And here's Drogba Mane. Let's face it, this year there are 3 candidates this year: Messi, Wandeck and Ronaldo. Messi has played better than Ronaldo this year. You can say you didn't win a prize, but a gold ball is an individual prize. That is why Messi should get this year. But journalists, who are voting for the ball, are looking at more statistics than they should have given to Vandeik. Ronaldo and Messi need to make 2 gold balls each year. For them, the golden ball did not matter, as Ronaldo said
Sundiata
0
he's an African they won't give it to him.
George Weah🤔?
Juniorc
0
Nice talk but not this year may be next year.
ToniAttah_
2
Africa representing
tinbdeiosu
4
he's an African they won't give it to him.
ovo_lexis
3
he is good but but if Liverpool had messi under klopp, we will be playing against aliens in other galaxies.
JA-Likhon
0
Drogba says MANE. Wenger says MANE. Messi first voted MANE.
racism is one of the biggest fact. moreover, they hate Muslims. without Allah,muslim has no one in their support, mind it.
smith09
1
so I don't know if I'm missing something here but how exactly does mané deserve to win it over everybody?🤔🤔
smith09
0
(À Muà té) It's our ti, time. That's in the Bassa dialect from Liberian. Mané most deserve it.
how?
SonOfPep
1
Pogba who will back you Mr. £120M [Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
smith09
0
I don't know y they don't want Africans to win that ball etoo, drogba, toure, essien and other played best football at their peak but still they didn't win it so it will be difficult
so tell me, did they have better year than the ones who won the award?
delmancrespo
0
If drogba want to support African player, it should be mahrez. The lad won AFCON with Algeria & 4 English title with City. Unless you think ucl is all that matter.
point of correction mahrez won only one premier league with man city even in the bench
Lubdknr
0
(À Muà té) It's our ti, time. That's in the Bassa dialect from Liberian. Mané most deserve it.
coemst
2
I don't know y they don't want Africans to win that ball etoo, drogba, toure, essien and other played best football at their peak but still they didn't win it so it will be difficult
Tababekoy
5
Drobga has a point but with the level of racism it will take time for an African player to win balon... look at some of our comments you can see that we fans, are too racist. i wish we could unite and support the game as it is... #say no to Racism Mane for balon dor 100% 2019
jackstance
2
Drogba says MANE. Wenger says MANE. Messi first voted MANE.
nupabdmopu
0
No its olufujana
Eoric
0
I like him but he dont play enough to win that heavy stones
GOAT-Seven
0
Only if Drogba organize a Ballon d'Or himself.
tewbdlo
2
Aubameyung, Mane & Salah all will surely lift the flag of African Union one day, one after the other. Samuel E'to, Drogba, Kanu, Essien and Toure where highly discriminated against, they could have won the Ballon d'Or easily...
Zeueikmpz
1
please as a football lover you have to know that sadio mane is the right choice for the ballon door
Zeueikmpz
1
please let's try and support football but not individual player,every football lover knows that mane is the right choice for the ballon door
Madacm
0
If drogba want to support African player, it should be mahrez. The lad won AFCON with Algeria & 4 English title with City. Unless you think ucl is all that matter.
Mahrez are you killing me someone who is starter only 15 times the all season 🤣🤣🤣
cunbemorz
0
For me I prefer salah mor than mane. But it’s ok if any one from my club claim it I’m be happy 😊
Hubekmnpuz
3
Sala mane mahrez and the Gabon born they deserve it but if not these year then balloon door is for Europe players only
Kg4991
0
He might someday but not This time.
Bobbekstuz
1
I didn't know that some football players could dream
HenningCR7❤️
0
If drogba want to support African player, it should be mahrez. The lad won AFCON with Algeria & 4 English title with City. Unless you think ucl is all that matter.
Maybe if guadiola didn’t keep him on the bench all season
rudeikmnty
3
am a man utd fun, but if Mane is not among the three contenters to win this prize, I will quit supporting football
Benosky1
3
As long he's an African, he cannot win it.. Racism all round.. I'm still wondering how George weah won it
Mohammad391
1
No doubt he is a best player
ayes
0
If drogba want to support African player, it should be mahrez. The lad won AFCON with Algeria & 4 English title with City. Unless you think ucl is all that matter.
Are you serious? Mahrez was warming the bench at city.