The Barcelona forward has held the Senegal international in high esteem after a fantastic year with the Reds
Lionel Messi has stated Sadio Mane was his pick for the 2019 Ballon d'Or because of his achievements with
Liverpool .
The Argentine beat Mane's teammate Virgil van Dijk and his eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo to the gong in Paris on Monday night for a record sixth time, while Mane polled fourth.
He still didn't stop short of praising the former Southampton man.
"But I think there have been a lot of great players this year. That’s why it was difficult to choose a particular player. ‘But I chose Sadio Mane because he’s a player that I like.
"Mane achieved a great year that was exceptional for the entire Liverpool team. That’s why I chose him. ‘
"I repeat, there were a lot of very great players this year, so the choice was difficult."
Mane was a key cog in the Liverpool side that won the 2018-19 Champions League and finished a close second in the Premier League, scoring 26 competitive goals and providing five assists.
In the current campaign, he has already had a hand in 20 goals (13 goals, seven assists) in 21 competitive appearances, with the Reds holding an eight-point lead in the English top-flight.

Mane, a great baller. But Leo is the greatest. Real recognize real...