The Senegalese has been arguably the best player for the Merseyside team this term, and he secured all three points for Liverpool with a late goal against Aston Villa on Saturday.
The 27-year-old has six league goals and two assists to his name so far this season and he has been named on the 30-man shortlist for this year’s Ballon d’Or award.
Apart from Luka Modric winning it in 2018, Messi and Ronaldo have equally shared 10 Ballon D’ors between them since 2008.
Despite being on the 30-man shortlist with the Portuguese and the Argentine, Mane feels he is far away from the capabilities of the two extra-terrestrials and he labelled them as ‘monsters’.
“These players [Messi and Ronaldo] are monsters. I think that I am still far away from them,” Mane told L’Equipe du Soir.
“As I have said, I am going to do everything I can to come a little closer to them.”
After heaping praises on the duo, the Senegal International admitted that it has always been his dream to win the prestigious Golden Ball since he was a kid.
“Honestly, as I’ve said, it has always been a childhood dream of mine,” he said.
“The fact that I am listed as one of the nominees is due to the fruits of the work that I’ve been putting in for a long time.”
“This is more of a dream than an obsession, I am at the service of the collective first and foremost.”
“And if I am able to distinguish myself amongst this collective then of course, the Ballon D’Or, has always been my dream. And when a dream comes true, it is always exceptional.
“All of the Senegalese people, my friends, my family, would be so happy, I would be so happy.”
“I think as I have said it has always been a supplementary source of motivation for me.”
Samuel Eto’o and Didier Drogba have been vying for Mane to win this year’s Ballon d’Or award after a successful year with Liverpool, and the former Southampton forward said it is pleasant to hear such words from the African legends.
“Eto’o, Drogba, they are legends in Africa and to hear what they are saying about me, it is always nice.”
