Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has suggested that it was too early to say whether Senegal striker Sadio Mane deserves to win Ballon d’Or.

Klopp said Mane, like all players save for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, has to win the UEFA Champions League trophy first before he can be considered for the award.

“Wow! He plays an outstanding season, Sadio is an outstanding player. I have nothing to do with the Ballon d’Or nomination and all these kind of things. I don’t understand it really 100 per cent,” Klopp said after Mane scored in the 2-0 win over Villarreal in the UEFA Champions League semifinal first leg on Wednesday night.

“He is world-class and played again a really good game for us. I don’t know exactly how you come to that question now, the season is not even over. Historically you have to win something, I think, to win the Ballon d’Or most of the time. It was like this, that if you are not Messi or Ronaldo you have to win probably the Champions League, which we didn’t do yet so give us a few more weeks and then we will see where we end up. Sadio wants to contribute, Sadio wants to help the team and that’s what I love most of all.” 

Mane scored the second goal after Estupiñán’s own goal inside two second half minutes had given Liverpool a dream start to the semifinal first-leg against Villarreal.

Klopp also praised Guinea skipper Naby Keita for his outstanding performance this season.

“He is an outstanding player and that was always clear. Even in other seasons when he was not that consistently fit, he played incredible games. If you go back and watch our big games, you will realise how often Naby was on the pitch in these games. A very good, very good, moment for him,” he said.

Liverpool travel to face Villarreal next week in the second leg of the Champions League semifinal.