Sadio Mane finished second in the 2022 Ballon d’Or, ranking behind only Karim Benzema in the 66th edition of the award.
Mane enjoyed another prolific campaign with Liverpool throughout the 2021/22 season as they finished Premier League runners-up and Champions League finalists, in what proved to be his last season at Anfield.
The Senegal forward – who also lifted the Africa Cup of Nations at the beginning of the year – joined Bayern Munich in the summer after finishing up the 2021/22 campaign with 23 goals and five assists in all competitions.
As well as placing second, Mane won the Socrates award on the night, in recognition for his outstanding humanitarian work away from the pitch. He has become synonymous with incredible charity work in his home country.
Mane scored in both legs of Liverpool’s Champions League semi-final clash with Villarreal to help them to the final, setting up a rematch of their 2018 final with Real Madrid.
He also scored and assisted for Senegal in the AFCON semi-final against Burkina Faso, captaining his nation to victory at the tournament.
In what was a tough season for Liverpool and Mane as they competed on four fronts for silverware, the 30-year-old finished particularly strong and proved his worth as a centre-forward as well as a winger, demonstrating his outstanding ability once again.
