Dejan Lovren Makes 'European Passport' Claim After Mohamed Salah Is Snubbed For FIFA Award

Mohamed Salah's close friend Dejan Lovren has claimed the Egypt international would've been in FIFA's 'The Best' World XI if he had a European passport.



The Liverpool winger is arguably the best player in the world right now but was overlooked by football's governing body on Monday evening.

Salah came third in the voting for Best Men's Player behind Lionel Messi and winner Robert Lewandowski, but he somehow failed to make 'The Best' World XI.

Lovren is a former teammate of Salah's and vented his frustration on Twitter, stating: "No place for @MoSalah to be placed in the Fifapro world11?? Again!!"

The duo won the Champions League in together in 2019 as well as Liverpool's first Premier League title in 2020.

Lovren has since moved to Russian outfit Zenit and remains in contact with Salah.

He continued: "People with knowledge about football they know that he deserves to be in there. What needs to be done to be there? Maybe a European passport," with a shrugging emoji attached.

Salah didn't manage to make it in ahead of Messi, Lewandowski, Cristiano Ronaldo and Erling Haaland.

Edouard Mendy was named FIFA Goalkeeper of the Year after winning the Champions League with Chelsea, but also didn't make the team.

The Senegal international was beaten to the spot by Gianluigi Donnarumma, who won Euro 2020 with Italy last summer.

The FIFA Best Men's World 11 👀 pic.twitter.com/fnFkWC32I9

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 17, 2022

Salah is currently captaining Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations and they sit second in Group D, behind Nigeria.

It means he isn't available for Liverpool and neither is Sadio Mane, who is away with Senegal.

Manager Jurgen Klopp was asked if their absence, plus Naby Keita's, will have an impact on the Reds' style of play and he replied: “In football, you can be the better team and win a game and you can be the better team and lose a football game.

"You can have a plan and win a football game and you can have no plan and win a football game. It’s all possible.

"Whoever will play in a period when the three boys are not here will have a plan and gives us the chance to win a football game.

"Can we play exactly the same football? Probably not, but who cares. We play the football we are able to play then, that’s the situation."

Liverpool ran out 3-0 winners over Brentford in their last game and sit second in the Premier League.