Sadio Mane has admitted that he is perplexed at how Senegal teammate Edouard Mendy has been snubbed for the 2021 Ballon d'Or award.
Mendy was left off France Football’s 30-man shortlist for the Ballon d'Or, despite his impressive form in Chelsea’s Champions League triumph last season.
The 29-year-old Senegalese shot-stopper, who arrived from Rennes in a reported £22m deal, kept nine clean sheets in 12 Champions League matches.
Advert
And Mendy equalled the record held by Santiago Canizares and Keylor Navas for most clean sheets in a single Champions League season.
Mendy’s Chelsea teammates N'Golo Kante, Jorginho, Romelu Lukaku, Mason Mount and Cesar Azpilicueta feature on the 30-man shortlist, but the Senegal international failed to make France Football’s selection.
Mane, who also didn’t make the Ballon d'Or shortlist, said it was “unacceptable” that the Chelsea star wasn’t nominated.
Read More:
During his international duty with Senegal this week, the Liverpool star said: “It is unacceptable. I do not understand.”
Advert
France Football did recognise Mendy’s achievements last season with his nomination for the Yashin Trophy, which is awarded to the best ‘keeper in the world.
The award, which is named after the legendary Lev Yashin, was first introduced in 2019 and was won by Liverpool star Alisson.
Napoli star Kalidou Koulibaly, 30, echoed Mane’s remarks over Mendy’s absence from the Ballon d'Or shortlist.
The Senegal captain said: “It’s a real shame that Edou isn’t one of them. He is the first African goalkeeper to win the Champions League.
Advert
“We must continue to work and move forward. We have to do the double [the work] of some people to be well judged.
“Edou is a very positive person. We talked about it together. He will continue to fight to be part of it. For me, he has a place among these 30 players.”
Mendy was humble over his absence from the 30-man Ballon d'Or shortlist and welcomed his nomination for the Yashin Trophy.
Advert
Read More:
“Honestly, I am already very proud to represent my country and be among the 10 best goalkeepers in the world,” he said.
“In just one year [at Chelsea], it’s a very good thing. I’m not satisfied with that, I have a lot of ambitions but it’s already a good step.
Advert
“There will always be debates, whether it’s about me or someone else. It is down to the freedom of the votes of the [Ballon d’Or] journalists and they must be respected.”
The winners of the 2021 Ballon d'Or and Yashin Trophy will be announced at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on 29th November.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Sadio Mane, Edouard Mendy, Liverpool, Chelsea, Premier League, England, Senegal, Football