Speaking on Sky Sports following Liverpool’s clash with Manchester City, Carragher argued that Salah’s involvement with the Egyptian national team is a liability when it comes to earning individual honours.
“The issue with Salah winning the Ballon d’Or is that he’s an Egyptian international, and he doesn’t get the chance to compete in a major tournament,” Carragher said.
“I believe the Ballon d’Or is largely determined by performances in the Champions League or another top-tier competition,” he added.
Carragher’s comments did not stop there. On his official X (formerly Twitter) account, he continued:
“If Salah had an average season with Liverpool but had won the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) and been the best player in the tournament, I don’t believe he would have won the Ballon d’Or. That’s because I don’t think the AFCON carries the same weight as other tournaments.”
“I know that Sadio Mane finished second a few years back after winning the tournament, but it wasn’t that tournament alone — it was also the strength of a Liverpool side that nearly clinched a quadruple,” he further noted.
Carragher’s dismissive stance on the significance of the AFCON quickly drew rebuttals from former players and pundits:
Micah Richard, who appeared alongside Carragher on Sky Sports, was quick to set the record straight:
“Just to clarify, the African Cup of Nations is a major tournament, just so you know.”
Moreover, Rio Ferdinand, former Manchester United defender, said that AFCON needs to be given the same prestige as the World Cup and other major trophy tournaments.
“It should be respected more than it is, but what I would say is the lack of resources put into it… the narrative from the media that comes out is that it is a Mickey Mouse tournament,” Ferdinand said during a podcast on Monday.
“If you win the Euro or Copa America, those are considered major tournaments, and the African Cup of Nations is on the same level,” Daniel Sturridge said.
Ahmed Elmohamady, former Egyptian international, fired back on social media:
“Carragher doesn’t know what major tournaments are because he hasn’t won any of them. The AFCON is a major tournament, and I’m proud to have won it twice.”
Ahmed ‘Mido’ Hossam went further during an appearance on the English show talkSPORT, emphasizing the intensity and historical significance of the tournament:
“People don’t understand the level of competition in the African Cup of Nations. Carragher’s comments show a blatant disrespect towards us Africans. In Egypt, for example, when we play in the AFCON, the whole nation stops to watch — the passion is indescribable,” he added.
Mido concluded, noting the rising quality of the tournament: "I hope people realize that we have the right to host our competitions, and the quality of the tournament is not as poor as people assume. In Africa, we have top-tier players and coaches, and we now have what we were missing before."
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) also joined the fray, talking to X, sharing a series of photos and a video from recent AFCON tournaments under captions such as “The major tournament” and “Great pride, great stars, great talent, great fans, great football.”
In an impassioned statement, former Egyptian international and four-time AFCON winner Ahmed Hassan condemned Carragher’s remarks as dismissive and racially insensitive.
“I am shocked and deeply upset by Jamie Carragher’s comments, which belittle the African Cup of Nations. For your information, Africa comprises 54 countries — more than the number of countries in Europe — and spans over 30 million square kilometres with a population of about 1.5 billion. More than half of the players in Europe’s top leagues are of African descent. Look at France and England, where many players have African roots,” Hassan explained.
“Your repeated criticisms of Mohamed Salah are baseless. External factors, not technical merit, have sometimes hindered African stars from receiving the recognition they deserve. Rest assured, Salah is on the right path to winning the Ballon d’Or this year and making Africa proud,” he added.
While Carragher’s comments have drawn criticism, they have also sparked a broader discussion about respect for African football achievements.
As Mohamed Salah continues to break records and captivate fans worldwide, many believe that the criteria for individual accolades should recognize excellence wherever it is achieved — be it in Europe’s elite tournaments or Africa’s storied continental championship.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
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