Sadio Mane Explains Ballon D’or Absence

Liverpool’s Sadio Mane has clarified reports suggested he snubbed this year’s Ballon d’Or that had Messi feted as the winner.

The 27-year-old was in the running for the gong along with Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo, Barcelona’s Messi and teammate Mohamed Salah who finished fifth.

Ronaldo decided not to come after information leaked before the awards revealing Messi as the winner for this year’s event, making it his sixth.

Senegal international Sadio wasn’t present amid claims he too did a Ronaldo in a fit of anger.

However, the former Southampton and RedBull Salzburg man has poured cold water on the rife assertions saying team schedule prevented him from flying over.

“I would have liked to be there with you, but unfortunately my calendar does not allow me,” he began.

“I have a game on Wednesday, I say congratulations to the winner, see you next year. I’ll try to be there, maybe to lift the Golden Ball,” he said via footage released an hour after Messi’s crowning.