Senegalese striker Sadio Mane has maintained that he is a better player than Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah.
Mo Salah and Sadio Mane were Liverpool teammates and enjoyed a brilliant spell together, winning the UEFA Champions League and the English Premier League in concurrent seasons.
However, both players have enjoyed differing fortunes since Mane left Anfield to team up with Julian Nagelsmann at Bayern Munich.
That move proved unsuccessful for the Senegalese star after former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel took over at the Allianz Arena.
After an altercation with ex-Manchester City Leroy Sane during a game, Mane’s time at Bayern was over, and he was shipped out.
Sadio Mane has since moved to big-spending Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr to team up with Cristiano Ronaldo, while Mo Salah remains an integral part of Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Why I am better than Salah - Mane
On the international stage, the story has been quite different as Mane has enjoyed a better career with his national side.
After Sadio Mane won his first trophy with Al-Nassr (the Arab Club Football Championship), the Senegalese responded to a fan who mentioned Salah's name in a conversation with him.
“Salah?, Mane paused before replying, “No African Nation Cup; Senegal have African Nations Cup.”
Salah and Mane’s Achievements
Meanwhile, it is important to state that both players have won the African Footballer of the Year award twice each.
Salah won the award consecutively in 2017 and 2018, but Sadio Mane is the current holder of the prestigious award after previously winning it in 2019.
However, only one thing separates both players - the African Cup of Nations trophy.
Mane described his 2022 Afcon triumph as the best day of his life, insisting that the trophy is more special than his UEFA Champions League title.
He said, “It’s the best day of my life and the best trophy of my life. I won the Champions League and some [other] trophies but this is the special one for me.
“This is more important for me. I am happy for myself, my people and all of my family.”
While Salah has scored more goals than Mane, the Senegalese holds the bragging rights for his Cup of Nations triumph over Salah’s Egypt in 2022 via penalties.