Ballon d’Or. The annual football award presented by French news magazine France Football is so popular and respected, that it always gains publicity and controversy, over the selected winners, but also on the selected candidate. There were many debates were the topic was only why this guy is in the Ballon d’Or shortlist and the other isn’t, or why is this player 29th where he should be in number 14 etc. Lionel Messi’s award in 2021 was one of the most shocking ones, as the Argentine didn’t won any trophy, not to mention he wasn’t in form that season, unlike Robert Lewandowski, who still came in second. But what about Edouard Mendy?Black Stars legend Gyan claims Mendy doesn’t deserve the Goalkeeper of the AFCON trophyThe Chelsea keeper is a standout goalie for quite some time. He is the the first Senegalese goalkeeper to play in and win the Champions League, and the first African goalkeeper to do so in this rendition of Europe’s premier club competition. (Bruce Grobbelaar, of Zimbabwe, won the “European Cup” with Liverpool back in 1984). This year he continued his success and won the AFCON for the first time. And after the major success for Senegal, again, the same question appeared: Ballon d’Or. In last year’s addition, Mendy was even snubbed in the top 30 rankings, with only Mohamed Salah and Riyad Mahrez being the only two African players on the list. What’s even worse, Gianluigi Donnarumma, of all people, was the only goalkeeper on the list. Patrice Evra: We are the ‘monkeys’, no one cares about the African Cup of Nations, Lewandowski was robbedSo, it was only logical that Mendy ‘didn’t understand’ why he did not crack the top 30 in last year’s Ballon d’Or. The Senegalese not only kept a clean sheet in the Blues’ 1-0 win over Manchester City in the finals of the Champions League, but was a standout through the season, with only City keeping more clean sheets than the west Londoners. Since joining the London side in the September 2020, he has kept 25 clean sheets in his 52 league appearances. He was also named the Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper but not made it to Ballon d’Or’s shortlist.„The title of best FIFA goalkeeper? I will not hide it, this moment was very very strong. To be a black footballer, especially a goalkeeper, is also a very big responsibility. This title is also the icing on the cake. The absence in the list of 30 for the Ballon d’Or? The best response was to stay the course on the pitch to show that my name deserved to be in the top 30. I think being African did me a disservice because I didn’t play in any international competitions last year“ said Mendy to Telefoot. Edouard Mendy: If I was representing France, I would surely be on the Ballon d’Or candidate listChelsea keeper already commented on this when the shortlist was first published, and also was backed by a number of players. “It’s something that motivates me and pushes me to work. Honestly, I am wondering. If I had played for France and had taken part in the European Championships, would we have this debate and this reflection?” the 29-year-old told Canal Plus via Wiw Sport back in November.
