Former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure believes Sadio Mane should have won the Ballon d'Or - and wants Liverpool to be crowned world champions.
When asked if Mane deserves to become African Player of the Year, Toure said: “To be honest, he deserved to win the Ballon d'Or first.
“In Africa we don't see any better players than him. Did you see the votes, did you see what he did in the last year, how many goals he scored, what he achieved with Liverpool?
“For me it is a shame when a team wins this trophy (Champions League) and the winner of the Ballon d'Or is not coming from there.
“I think you see sometimes as Africans we don't have solidarity and this is our problem.”
Toure was speaking at the Generation Amazing Youth Festival here in Doha.
Liverpool will take on Flamengo in the FIFA Club World Cup final in the Qatar capital on Saturday, with the former Ivory Coast international cheering on Jurgen Klopp's side.
“I think it the Club World Cup is a good idea,” he said. “I was quite surprised to see the line-up of Liverpool (in the semi-final win over Monterrey) because this trophy is very serious. I think the manager Klopp has to take it serious as it is very important to get this trophy.
“I want a European team to win. Who do I want to win, Flamengo or Liverpool? Liverpool of course.”
Toure is taking a particular interest in the Premier League title race, with Liverpool leading both his ex-club City and Leicester City, where brother Kolo – a former Reds defender – is on the coaching staff.
“Liverpool are great, they are doing very well and they deserve their position at the moment,” said Toure.
“There is a long way to go but Liverpool are a good side and they look much stronger than last year.
“The way I see City is their form this year has been quite complicated but so many points in front Liverpool have a good, good chance.
“When you see the league today there are a few teams who are quite disappointed, like Arsenal and a couple of others, but Liverpool have the chance to have the honours this year.”