This archive report was first published on 24 September 2019.
On Monday night in Milan, the Best Fifa Football Awards took place, with Lionel Messi emerging as the winner. However, the decision has sparked debate, with Cameroonian football legend Samuel Eto'o questioning why African stars Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane were not considered for the award.
Speaking during an interview at the sidelines of the event, Eto'o expressed his opinion, saying, 'The best one (players) for me is Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, but they are not here.'
Salah and Mane had an impressive season, with the two players scoring 22 goals apiece in the 2018-19 English Premier League season, alongside Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal. They also led Liverpool to winning the Uefa Champions League.
Former AC Milan star George Weah, now the President of Liberia, remains the only African player to win Fifa's best player's award, which he achieved in 1995.
Despite their impressive performances, Messi scored 36 times last season, helping Barcelona win the La Liga title.
Eto'o, one of Africa's most successful players of all time, is a four-time winner of the African Player of the Year award (2003, 2004, 2005, 2010), an accomplishment no other Africa player has achieved.
