The votes cast by Liverpool star Mohamed Salah for this year's FIFA Best Awards have been revealed - and he chose two Real Madrid rivals in first place in both categories.
The Reds star made it on to the shortlist for the FIFA Men's Best Player Award after an impressive individual year. He provided 70 goal contributions across 2022, won two trophies and helped Egypt to the Africa Cup of Nations final.
But he was not considered as one of the favourites to win the award, which was scooped by PSG and Argentina star Lionel Messi.
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Salah placed 14th, the highest-placed current Liverpool player on the list. Sadio Mane, who departed the Reds in the summer to join Bayern Munich, placed sixth.
As captain of the Egyptian national team, Salah was eligible to vote for who he believed was the best coach and best player - although, of course, he could not place a vote for himself. His picks have since been revealed.
Liverpool star Salah's FIFA The Best votes revealed
When it came to best coach, the Egyptian decided to vote for Morocco coach Walid Regragui in third place, who guided his team to the World Cup semi-finals. Regragui did, in fact, finish third in the overall voting.
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Salah then opted for Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola in second place.
But it was his first pick that was perhaps most surprising, with the Egyptian choosing Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti.
The Italian was in charge of the side that beat Liverpool in the final of the Champions League last season - although the vote shows how much respect Salah has for the legendary manager.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was not nominated this year, despite winning two trophies and coming within two games of extending that to four trophy wins in 2022.
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Meanwhile, when it came to the FIFA Men's Best Player Award, Salah chose Achraf Hakimi and Kevin De Bruyne in third and second respectively.
His winner was Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior, who netted the winning goal in last season's Champions League final. He also produced a superb display in his side's 5-2 win at Anfield last Tuesday, and continues to be recognised as one of the elite forwards in the world game.
The Brazilian only got two other first place votes, with members of the media from Cameroon and the Solomon Islands voting for him, but it isn't hard to predict that he will surely get more next year if he continues his excellent form.
Topics: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool, FIFA, Lionel Messi, Real Madrid, Vinicius Jr
Ryan Smart