Former England striker Peter Crouch Tips Sadio Mane to Win Ballon d'Or Award

• Former Liverpool and England striker Peter Crouch believes Sadio Mane should be awarded the Ballon d'Or this year
• Sadio Mane has been a key figure in Senegal's Africa Cup of Nations triumph and Liverpool's Carabao Cup win
• The last time a Liverpool player won the Ballon d'Or was in 2001 when Michael Owen beat off competition from Raul Gonzalez and Oliver Khan

Former Liverpool forward Peter Crouch believes Sadio Mane stands a chance of winning the 2022 Ballon d'Or.

Mane has played key roles for both club and country this season, helping Senegal to lift their maiden Africa Cup of Nations title after defeating Egypt in the final.

The 30-year-old later returned to Anfield to help Liverpool beat Chelsea to win the Carabao Cup.

And Crouch feels Mane is the outstanding player to win football's biggest individual prize in the coming months.

Speaking to Paddy Power, via Goal, Crouch was quoted as saying:

Asamoah Gyan sings Sadio Mane praises, calls him the 'Face of Africa'

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"Mane's a great shout. He's won the Afcon already, and if he goes on to win the Champions League, the Premier League and if Liverpool completes the quadruple then it would almost certainly have to go to a Liverpool player, and then [Mohamed] Salah and Mane are your standouts for it."

The last Liverpool player to win the Ballon d'Or is Michael Owen. The legendary English striker defeated Real Madrid forward Raul Gonzalez and Bayern Munich goalkeeper Oliver Khan for the coveted prize.

In 2019, Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk finished second to Argentina captain Lionel Messi.

How Mane has fared this season

Mane has been on splendid form for both club and country. The 30-year-old led Senegal to win their first Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

He also guided the Lions of Teranga to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup after scoring the winning penalty against Egypt in the play-offs.

Juventus vice president Pavel Nedvěd backs Sadio Mané to win Ballon d’Or award

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Mane, who is currently Liverpool's third-highest goal scorer this season, was instrumental as Jurgen Klopp's side defeated Chelsea to win the Carabao Cup in February this year.

Juventus Vice President Pavel Nedvěd Backs Sadio Mané to Win Ballon d’Or Award

Sports Brief earlier reported that Juventus vice president Pavel Nedvěd has thrown his weight behind Senegal and Liverpool attacker Sadio Mané for the 2022 Ballon d'Or award.

Nedvěd, a winner of the Ballon d'Or award in 2003, believes Mané is in a similar position he experienced 19 years ago when he competed with Brazilian greats Ronaldo and Ronaldinho as well as French icons Zidane and Thierry Henry for the coveted prize.

Despite the form of Mané's competitors, the former Czech Republic international thinks the Liverpool talisman deserves a shout for the award.