Liverpool Football Club have packed their bags and made the trip to Paris for one of the most glamorous nights in the world of football, the Ballon d’Or ceremony. It is a night filled with lights, cameras, big names, and dreams of immortality. To be called the best player in the world is the highest honour for any footballer, and this year Liverpool have travelled with not just one name on the list, but several. The excitement in the city of Liverpool and among the fans across the globe is beyond description. This is a night where Anfield’s stars will stand shoulder to shoulder with the greatest names in the game, waiting for their names to be called out. For the players, the manager, and the fans, it is not just about winning, but about being recognised among the best in the world.
The reports from James Pearce of the Athletic confirmed that Liverpool’s delegation have already arrived in Paris. The ceremony is scheduled for Monday evening at the famous Theatre du Chatelet, a stage that has seen some of the most iconic football moments. Liverpool are used to big nights under the lights of Anfield, but this is a different kind of magic. The Ballon d’Or is not about three points or a trophy lift on the pitch, it is about legacy, about writing your name in golden letters in football’s history book. Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian King, is Liverpool’s biggest hope, but he is not the only Red being honoured. Virgil van Dijk, Alexis Mac Allister, Florian Wirtz and Alisson Becker are all part of the story, with manager Arne Slot and the club itself also in contention for awards.
Salah’s journey to this moment is remarkable. Since he arrived at Liverpool, he has been the face of the club’s rise back to the very top of European football. His goals, his skill, his consistency, and his leadership have carried the Reds through countless battles. Yet, despite everything he has achieved, the Ballon d’Or has always eluded him. He has been close, he has been overlooked, he has been unlucky. This year, his name is once again on the list, but the bookies and many journalists believe Ousmane Dembele is the favourite. That does not bother Salah. For him, being in the conversation year after year is proof of his greatness. To be recognised again, especially after leading Liverpool to their 20th league title in May, is a source of pride not just for him but for all of Egypt and all of Anfield.
Virgil van Dijk, the rock at the back, is also in the 30-man shortlist. He has already been revealed to have finished 28th, which many fans feel is lower than he deserves, but his place on the list still shows the respect he commands. Van Dijk has battled injuries, doubters, and age to still perform at the highest level. Alongside him is Alexis Mac Allister, who joined Liverpool from Brighton and instantly became the heartbeat of the midfield. His inclusion in the shortlist is a sign that his performances have not gone unnoticed. Then there is Florian Wirtz, the young star signed by Liverpool in the summer who has already finished 29th in the rankings. For such a young player, just being on this list so early in his Liverpool career is a sign of the bright future ahead. Finally, Alisson Becker, the goalkeeper who has saved Liverpool time and again, is nominated for the Lev Yashin Trophy, the award for the best goalkeeper in the world. If anyone deserves it, it is Alisson, the man who makes impossible saves look routine.
The manager Arne Slot is also in the spotlight. He is nominated for Coach of the Year, a huge recognition so early in his time at Anfield. Slot stepped into the biggest shoes after Jurgen Klopp’s departure, and many doubted whether he could handle the pressure. But he has quickly earned the respect of players and fans, guiding Liverpool with calmness and tactical intelligence. For him, just to be nominated alongside some of the most respected coaches in the world is an achievement, but knowing his character, he will see it as just the beginning.
Liverpool as a club are also nominated for Men’s Club of the Year. This is an award that goes beyond individual brilliance and recognises the collective success of a club, its performances, its trophies, its global impact. To be among the top five nominees shows just how strong Liverpool have been across competitions. Their historic 20th league title last season was not just a victory, it was a statement. A reminder to the football world that Liverpool are not just a club of the past, they are a force of the present and the future.